Cyprus face Davis Cup ‘mission impossible’

THE Cyprus Tennis Federation has announced that the national team will face Portugal in the Davis Cup Europe/Africa Group II Second Round without Marcos Baghdatis and Photos Kallias this weekend.

Baghdatis has had a very busy schedule prior to Wimbledon and he highlighted the need to rest before he starts his American hard-court campaign, culminating with the final Grand Slam of the season, the US Open.

In the meantime, the Cypriot number one has parted ways with his coach Eduardo Infantino and trainer Horacio Anselmi.

He is currently preparing for the Atlanta Tennis Championships which begin on July 19.

Kallias has been struggling with a knee injury over the last several months and will be out of action until he is fully recovered.

Cyprus team captain Yiannos Hadjigeorgiou has therefore selected Rares Cuzdriorean, Eleftherios Christou, Sergis Kyratzis and Philippos Tsangaridis to face the ambitious Portuguese in an attempt to reach Group I in 2011.

Federico Gil will lead Portugal ahead of Rui Machado, Leonardo Tavares and Joao Sousa declared their team captain Pedro Cordeiro.

The two countries have met twice so far in the Davis Cup and they are tied at 1-1, with the Portuguese beating Cyprus 5-0 on home soil in 2008.

Last year, Cyprus gained revenge, beating Portugal 3-2 at the National Tennis Centre in Nicosia.

After the Davis Cup tie, the Cyprus Tennis Federation will organise an international beach tennis tournament in collaboration with the Beach Tennis Limassol Club on July 18-19 at the town’s Sailing Centre.

So far, teams from Greece, Italy, San Marino and Germany have been registered, as well as local competitors.

For more information, please visit the official web site of the Cyprus Tennis Federation at www.cyprustennis.com.

 

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