The Moroccan national tennis team snatched a precious victory against Côte d’Ivoire by winning three straight matches, Saturday and Sunday in Abidjan, as part of the play-offs of the World Group II of the Davis Cup.
It was Adam Moundir who opened the ball on Saturday by giving Morocco the first point after his victory by 7-5, 4-6 and 7-5 over one of the best Ivorian tennis players, Coulibaly Eliakim, after 2h42 min of game.
Afterwards, it was the turn of Elliot Benchetrit to add the second point of the final victory by beating Kouamé Elliot on the courts of the International tennis club Sofitel in Abidjan.
Recently winner of the Doha International Tennis Tournament, Benchetrit confirmed his talent as a great player. It took him much less time than his compatriot (1h27min) and only two small sets 6-2, 6-2 to break in favor of Morocco.
In doubles, captain Mehdi Tahiri lined up Benchetrit Elliot and Lalami Laaroussi Younes who defeated Coulibaly Eliakim and Ouattara Gueninle Abdoul Karim 6-3 6-4 in 1h26min on Sunday.
As a reminder, the Moroccan Team is composed of Elliot Benchetrit, Adam moundir, yassine Dlimi, Lalami Laaroussi Younes as well as Walid Ahouda. It was this same group that finished first in Group 3 qualifying last August in Algiers.
Captain Mehdi Tahiri said he was very happy after this great achievement by his players who gave the best of themselves despite the unfavorable weather conditions (heat and humidity).
He praised in this sense the performance, the team spirit, the will to win, the determination to hoist the national flag high and the professionalism shown by the Moroccan players who signed a faultless course against their Ivorian counterparts. .
According to Mehdi Tahiri, the exploit of the national football team during the last World Cup in Qatar served as an example for young Moroccan tennis players in terms of efficiency, rigor, discipline and patriotism to succeed, to move forward and seek other victories in order to move up to the World Group I of the Davis Cup, and therefore honor Moroccan tennis.
For his part, Zakaria Zemrani, member of the management committee of the Royal Moroccan Tennis Federation (FRMT), highlighted the extreme importance of the victory won by Adam Moundir in the first match played as part of the Morocco- Côte d’Ivoire, noting that this victory gave the other Moroccan players confidence and allowed them to stay the course in front of their opponents and achieve such a nice course.
The Moroccans were there and were able to impose themselves in front of the Ivorian team and win this duel, he rejoiced, adding that the Moroccan delegation, with all its components (players, coach, physical trainer, physiotherapist… ) did everything to achieve this performance.
Zemrani and Tahiri made a point of warmly thanking all those who contributed directly or indirectly to the success of this mission, in particular the King’s Ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire, Abdelmalek Kettani, for his support and his presence throughout this meeting which opens wide prospects for the Moroccan team to access the World Group I.