The 21-year-old Philip Henning of Bloemfontein will be making his second appearance for South Africa in the Davis Cup on the weekend.
The tennis player from the Free State is currently studying in the USA and is one of just three South Africans that made the trio to Sofia, where they will face Bulgaria in the Davis Cup World Group II tie.
The seasoned doubles specialist, Raven Klaasen, led the team that includes Henning as well as Leyton Cronjé, who turns 22-years-old later in September. Henning made his Davis Cup debut last year when he represented South Africa against Columbia in New York. Cronjé will be in action for South Africa at senior level for the first time.
The fourth member of the South African team, Richard Thongoana, was unable to make the trip to Bulgaria due to travel issues.
Henning and Cronjé have a long history as rivals on the courts and also one of being teammates. They grew up playing with and against each other that this should make them ideal Davis Cup teammates.
Cronjé’s father is the renowned tennis coach Frans Cronjé, who himself was born and bred in the City of Roses. Cronjé told Bloemfontein Courant that this is a very inexperienced team, and while his son, Lleyton and Henning have been doing well in the Collegiate system in the USA, playing on the clay courts in Bulgaria will be a challenge.
“It’s a very experienced team and although they are doing extremely well at college level, it is still a challenge. The players they will play against are also high-level college players from Bulgaria, so it’s going to be tough. The clay courts will be a big decider when it comes to the structuring of the points, as well as who will play in the doubles with Raven.”
The World Group II tie between South Africa and Bulgaria in Sofia will be played on Friday and Saturday. – MORGAN PIEK
