In the opening singles match on Saturday, Alec Beckley (ranked 607 in the world) won the first set against Yassine Dlimi and even held two match points in the second. But Dlimi, ranked 777, showed great fight, saving both match points before forcing a tiebreak. 

He went on to snatch the second set, and Beckley couldn’t recover in the third, as Morocco claimed the first point with a 6-7, 7-6, 6-2 victory.

In the second singles, Marc van der Merwe also started brightly, dominating the first set against Taha Baadi. But the Moroccan lifted his game, taking control of the next two sets to seal a 3-6, 6-1, 6-1 win and put Morocco in charge at 2-0. 

Despite the tough start, Team South Africa captain Pietie Norval remained upbeat.

‘We feel confident in the doubles’

“We’re not down and out yet. We feel confident in the doubles, and if our pair can come through, then suddenly Morocco will feel the pressure.”  

On Sunday, Beckley will partner with Thando Longwe-Smit in the doubles against Dlimi and Younes Lalami Laaroussi, before returning later to face Baadi in the third singles rubber. Van der Merwe is set to play Dlimi in the fourth singles match.

The play started at 10:00 at Tennis Gauteng North’s stadium in Groenkloof, Pretoria.

OFM Sport /Ilse Smalberger dg