Segal laments sport's decline
IN 1962, under the shadow of the daunting Berlin Wall, South
Africa enjoyed one of their most memorable
Davis
Cup successes - beating Germany 3-2
after trailing 0-2 following the opening day's singles and trailing
in the critical third doubles encounter.
What a difference 48 years make, it might be said, as the
current South African Davis Cup squad recently emerged with their
tails firmly between their legs after a humiliating 5-0 drubbing at
the hands of Germany in Stuttgart. It was yet another failed bid to
regain a place in the elite World Group segment of the competition
after a frustrating absence of 12 years.
Abe Segal, who participated in the 1962 triumph as Gordon
Forbes' doubles partner, recently lamented the decline in South
African tennis prowess and said the game was in the doldrums in the
country.
"I don't think we should search for excuses and alibis for
the recent German drubbing," declared Segal.
"It was mainly because our players were simply not good
enough, although I must say the blas? attitude of our No1 player,
Kevin Anderson, to representing his country also represents a
disturbing trend since my time in the game."
Segal points out that in 1962 Cliff Drysdale was ranked
among the 10 top players in the world, Forbes figured among the
leading 20 players and his own pairing with Forbes was considered
to be one of the five best doubles combinations in the world.
"How can you compare that with the present standing of our
top players? The game has evolved into the most testing challenge
in sport of skill, stamina and sheer grit and South Africans have
simply not been able to keep up the pace.
"I think our players are just not tough enough or prepared
to sweat blood," Segal said. "Talent abounds in the junior ranks,
but that is where it seems to end. I would have given an arm and a
leg to have represented my country, but this guy Anderson drops out
when he has a sore toe."
And South Africa's hopes of regaining a World Group Davis
Cup berth are not looking any brighter after the draw for the 2011
games was made in London by the International Tennis Federation.
As a seeded country, SA has been granted a bye in the
Euro-Africa Group One segment, but this will be followed by a
match-up against The Netherlands or Ukraine for the right to
participate in a World Group playoff.
DISGUSTED: Former top tennis player Abe Segal
FULL OF EXCUSES: SA's top tennis player Kevin Anderson
