The Davis Cup returned last weekend, with African nations Egypt, Tunisia, Togo, South Africa, and Morocco competing.
In World Group I, Egypt faced Hungary at the El Gezira Sporting Club in Cairo on 13 and 14 September 2024. Despite a big effort, Egypt lost 3-2.
In the first singles match, Amr Elsayed fell to Hungary’s Zsombor Piros 7-5, 3-6, 4-6. Mohamed Safwat equalized for Egypt by defeating Mate Valkusz 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (5) in the second singles. Egypt took the lead in the doubles, with Safwat and Karim Maamoun winning against Peter Fajta and Gergely Madarasz 7-6 (6), 7-6 (4). However, on the final day, Safwat lost to Piros 6-7 (7), 1-6, and Fares Zakaria was defeated by Valkusz 3-6, 4-6 in the decisive singles match.
With this result; Egypt has slightly missed qualifying for the 2025 Davis Cup Qualifiers and will compete next in the 2025 World Group I Play-offs.
In World Group II, Tunisia achieved a 3-2 victory over Ireland at the Tennis Club de l'Avenir Sportif de la Marsa in Tunis. The first singles match saw Skander Mansouri losing to Michael Agwi 6-7 (5), 3-6, but Tunisia quickly equalized as Aziz Dougaz secured a comfortable win over Conor Gannon 6-3, 6-1. In the doubles, the pair Skander Mansouri and Aziz Ouakaa put Tunisia ahead with a 7-6 (4), 6-3 victory over Agwi and Gannon. Dougaz then lost the fourth match against Agwi 3-6, 4-6, bringing the tie to 2-2. Mansouri, however, clinched the decisive win for Tunisia by defeating Gannon 6-3, 6-1.
Togo secured a historical 4-0 win over Latvia at the Stade Omnisport de Lomé. Thomas Setodji gave Togo the lead by defeating Rolis Davis 6-4, 6-4, and Liova Ajavon extended the lead by beating Tens Daniels 7-5, 6-3. Togo sealed the win in the doubles as Padio Hod'abalo and Setodji overcame Neimanis Rihards and Davis 7-6 (5), 6-1. Setodji then won his second singles match against Daniels 7-6 (5), 6-4, completing Togo’s emphatic 4-0 victory.
South Africa lost 3-1 to Lebanon at the Palm Hills Sports Club in Cairo. In the first singles, Alec Beckley lost to Lebanon’s Benjamin Hassan 4-6, 2-6, followed by a tight loss for Philip Henning against Hady Habib 4-6, 6-3, 6-7 (3). South Africa gained hope in the doubles as Beckley and Henning won 7-6 (5), 6-3 against Habib and Hassan. However, Henning was defeated in the decisive singles match, losing 2-6, 3-6 to Hassan, securing Lebanon’s victory.
Morocco lost 4-0 to Monaco at the Royal Tennis Club de Marrakech. Yassine Dlimi lost to Hugo Nys 2-6, 7-6 (4), and Elliot Benchetrit was defeated by Romain Arneodo 4-6, 7-5, 6-3. Morocco’s doubles team, Benchetrit and Younes Lalami Laaroussi, then lost 2-6, 5-7 to Arneodo and Nys, and in the final singles match, Benjamin Balleret beat Lalami Laaroussi 6-3, 6-3.
With these results, Tunisia and Togo have secured promotion to the 2025 World Group I Play-offs, while South Africa, and Morocco will compete in the 2025 World Group II Play-offs, hoping for a chance to return to the higher tiers in September 2025.
Congratulations to Tunisia and Togo for their achievements, and hard luck to Egypt, South Africa, and Morocco.