While the South African Tennis Association (SATA) are on the trail to further improve the entry for next year’s revamped South African Open at Montecasino — adding to existing top-liners Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, David Ferrer and Marcos Baghdatis — the tournament seems sure to be enhanced with a contingent of South African Davis Cup squad members.

South African team captain John-Laffnie de Jager said yesterday that all the members of the Davis Cup would almost certainly enter the first historic South African Open to be featured on the main ATP circuit for more than 15 years.

And while South African number one Kevin Anderson, who is ranked 104th in the world, is the only local player with a good chance of qualifying automatically for the main singles draw, it would appear almost certain that Anderson and number two Rik de Voest will be granted wild card entries if necessary and will be spared going through the qualifying rounds.

De Jager said it was premature for SATA to examine the wild card issue at this stage — “but from my point of view,” he added, “I certainly believe a South African presence would add to the interest in the main draw.

The pairing of Jeff Coetzee, who is ranked 12th in the world, and Wesley Moodie, with a 14th world ranking, will be automatic entries in the doubles event as the number six combination in the world.

But other South Africans who might be required to play in the qualifying singles rounds if they do not obtain wild cards are Izak van der Merwe (301 in the rankings), Raven Klaasen (361st) and Fritz Wolmerans (722nd).

It has also been suggested that Moodie, who has been ranked as high as 57th in the world in singles, but has dropped alarmingly to 912th position, might seek a wildcard in a bid to make a singles comeback after an injury-plagued year.

“All the South African Davis Cup players will be competing in New Zealand and Australia early next year,” said De Jager, “while hoping to go on to qualify for the prestigious Australian Open — before returning to Johannesburg for the South African Open.”

Sapa

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