Europe/Africa Zone Group III (A) Yesterday’s OpenerGroup B-Round RobinTurkey 1- 0 Rwanda Turkey 2-1Greece Group A - Round Robin Iceland 0-3 Luxembourg Botswana 0-3 Estonia Botswana 0-2 Luxembourg Iceland 0-2 Estonia Rwanda started its campaign in this year’s Davis Cup Europe/Africa Zone Group III (A) competition on a poor note following a 1-0 loss to hosts Turkey in Instabul yesterday. Dieudonne Habiyambere, who is Rwanda’s top seed lost in straight sets 6-0 6-1 to Haluk Eskrim Daghcilik to earn the hosts their first victory. Rwanda’s other player Olivier Nkunda was expected to face Turkish Marsel Ilhan in the second pitting of the day. Habiyambere and Nkunda were also scheduled to play against Baris Erguden and Ergun Zorlu in the men’s doubles rubber but by press time tht two matches hadn’t been played. In the same group, the hosts also beat Greece 2-1. Rwanda is drawn in the Euro/Africa Zone of Group 3 alongside hosts Turkey, Estonia, Greece, Botswana, Iceland, Luxembourg and Madagascar. In group A, Luxembourg and Estonia are in clear position to qualify from Group III following straight wins over Iceland and Botswana respectively. The top two teams in each pool will advance to a promotion pool of four teams from which the two highest-placed nations are promoted to Europe/Africa Group II in 2010. Bottom two teams in each pool advance to a relegation pool from which the two lowest-placed nations are relegated to Europe/Africa Group IV in 2010. Since the country’s debut in 2001, Rwanda is yet to progress into Group 2 and is at pains to break this jinx. Last year, Rwanda battled their way back to Group 3 after a fourth spot finish in Armenia. It had been relegated to Group 4 in 2007. Davis Cup is the premier international team event in men’s tennis. It is contested between teams of players from competing countries in a knock-out format. The world’s best 16 national teams are assigned to the world group while nations outside the world group (like Rwanda) compete in one of three regional zones (Americas, Asia/Oceania, and Europe/Africa). Ends
