Changawa turns heat on North African opponent to leave Kenya in comfortable Davis Cup position
By Barry Silah, September 13, 2019Ishmael Changawa turned up the heat yesterday to beat Algerian Nazim Makhluf in straight sets 6-4, 7-5 at Nairobi Club.
This win in the Day Two of the Davis Cup Africa Group 3 qualifiers gave Kenya a good spot to hunt for a top-two spot.
Changawa and Makhluf traded lovely shots against them in the opening set with both taking opportunities as they came. Changawa led 2-1 at the start before pulling off to a 4-1 gap with his challenger making too many mistakes on his serve and eventually locked it after double faults by his opponent. The second set was the main story as Changawa buoyed by the home crowd pulled up a great comeback while four games down. At 1-1 it looked fairly poised but Changawa suddenly sniffed blood when he broke his opponent twice in succession and avoided a second set tie break with fiery balls that were converted for the win.
“We had to win that match and I told Changawa to hang in and fight to the end.
He showed great character which was key today,” said coach Rosemary Owino.
Earlier Kevin Cheruiyot lost 7-6(7), 6-3, 6-2 to Youcef Rohane in yet another epic three set duel. Kibet took the first game of the set as he settled in quicker but was to later fizzle out in the follow up three games due to many unforced errors including double faults and weak first serves.
The Algerian proved powerful and applied more pressure on Cheruiyot’s wide zones making it difficult to recover. His first serve was equally improved and he ensured the available points were well within grasp.
The Kenyan however fought tirelessly to narrow down the scores to 4-2 following a mishit by Rohane in a very decisive moment. He came alive only for a snap moment before the Algerian turned the tide to his favour with exquisite tennis.
It was all fireworks in between points but ultimately Cheruiyot won the tiebreak (7-6) after a sizzling fight that wowed the partisan crowd.
The second set was a different ball game as the Algerian tour player forced his challenger into numerous unforced errors.
His quick movement and big serve was the antidote. He ensured he won points mostly on the net as he made Cheruiyot to stretch.
Cheruyot picked the opening game but was hard done by through erratic returns in subsequent games. Rohane picked up the loose ends and transformed them to points after forcing a 3-3 toe and eventually closing it out routinely as Cheruiyot lost his poise. In the third set, it was a smooth sail for the Algerian who only dropped two games.
Cheruiyot gave his best but it was not to be enough.