Davis Cup Facing Anti-Israel Protests
While Australian tennis fans are watching the home team play Germany at the Rod Laver Arena in the 2018 Davis Cup World Group first round from February 2-4, media attention is probably going to focus on a much less important regional tie in South Africa.
The Irene Country Club, just outside Pretoria, is hosting first round ties of the Europe/Africa Zone Group 1 competition; the start of the process that could see some teams winning a shot at promotion to the World Group next year.
However, South Africa’s opponents in the round are Israel, and the country is home to a number of activist groups opposed to Israel’s “apartheid” policies in Palestine, including the BDS movement.
Government Minister Joins Pro-Palestine Activists
The South African minister of sport, Thulas Nxesi, who was himself refused entry to Israel and Palestine in 2012, has announced that he is boycotting the match.
Tennis South Africa also expects protest action outside the club over the weekend, a right guaranteed in South Africa’s constitution, although TSA expressed the hope that protestors would remain “law-abiding and peaceful”.
In a country where police response to “peaceful” protests has escalated into violence on both sides frequently in recent years, that may be a forlorn hope, however, and the anti-Israel demonstrations could well overshadow the tennis
One Zverev Fewer To Worry Australia
Local tennis fans will no doubt be more interested in Nick Kyrgios and his team as they face Germany in the first round of the Word Group championship. The German team suffered a blow when they had to send Mischa Zverev home.
The world No. 53 has not yet recovered from the viral infection that caused his withdrawal in the first round of the Australian Open, earning him a record fine for “unprofessional display”. His brother, world No. 5 Alexander, is still in the German line-up though, so punters shouldn’t expect the German attack to be toothless.
More About Jennie Martin
After completing her degree, Jennie Martin began her journalism career by working as an intern on the entertainment pages. However, her passion for sport was quickly noticed, and she began covering local events.
She now puts her considerable expertise and more than a decades worth of experience to good use, keeping readers up to date on Australian and international sports betting news.
From the latest sporting results to the thrills and spills of the online betting industry, Jennie is the australiansportsbetting.net expert in the field.
You May Also Like:
No Indian Wells For Novak Djokovic
It has now been confirmed that despite tennis world No. 2 Novak Djokovic having remained placed on the list of competitors for Indian Wells, he will not be permitted to ….
McEnroe Questions Raducanu Decision
John McEnroe has become just the latest of many to question Brit Emma Raducanu’s decision to change coaches following her fairy-tale US Open victory. Raducanu split with youth coach Andrew ….
Djokovic Lead Shareholder In Biotech Company
It has now emerged that the recently deported Novak Djokovic is the controlling shareholder (80%) in a company aiming to develop a treatment that does not involve vaccination. The Serb ….
French Open Likely Off The Cards For Novak
After a recent change to French health and safety rules, Novak Djokovic risks not being permitted into the country in May to defend his French Open title at Roland Garros. ….
More Confusion As Djokovic Blames Agent
The latest twist in the drama surrounding Novak Djokovic is a combination of blame-shifting and more confusion. The tennis world No. 1 is now blaming his agent for a so-called ….