Namibia aims for ‘third-time lucky’ at Davis Cup

Tennis
The team’s focus has now shifted to the Africa Group Three event in August, where they hope to repeat last year’s feat of topping the group and earning a return to the World Group Two playoffs.
Mariud Ngula
  • 1 Day Ago 09 February 2026

Namibia’s senior men’s tennis team has vowed to come back stronger after finishing second-best against Estonia in their Davis Cup World Group Two playoff tie in Windhoek.

The hosts went down 4-0 to the Northern European side over two days at Olympia’s Central Tennis Courts, missing out on the chance to remain in World Group Two for the next cycle later this year.

As a result, Namibia will now compete in the Davis Cup Africa Group Three event scheduled for August.

At the same stage last year, Namibia dominated the Africa Group Three competition, topping the group to book a return to the World Group Two playoffs this year.

They had previously dropped into Group Three following a narrow 3-2 loss to Hong Kong in their first-ever Davis Cup World Group Two tie hosted in Windhoek.

Estonia and Namibia faced off in a five-rubber Davis Cup World Group Two playoff tie, with the winner decided by the first team to secure three victories.

 

Saturday’s singles

The draw saw Estonia’s number one Mark Lajal, a 2024 Wimbledon debutant who faced current world number one Carlos Alcaraz, matched up against Namibia’s number two Steyn Dippenaar.

Fresh off the Australian Open, Lajal, currently ranked 153rd in the world, proved too strong for Dippenaar, winning 6-1, 6-4.

Namibia then fielded their number one Codie van Schalkwyk against Estonia’s Markus Mölder, ranked 1170th in the world.

Despite Van Schalkwyk’s fightback from a set down to level the match at 4-6, 6-4 and force a decider, Mölder held firm to claim the contest 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.

The results left Namibia trailing 2-0 at the end of the opening day with matches disrupted by rain, which caused several stoppages throughout Saturday.

Sunday’s rubbers

Sunday opened with the doubles rubber, with Namibia pairing Van Schalkwyk and Dippenaar against Estonia’s Lajal and Johannes Seeman, who is ranked 477th in the world.

Estonia made a strong start, taking the opening set 6-3, before closing out the match 6-4 despite Namibia leading on several occasions in the second set.

Reflecting on the win, Lajal and Seeman said their return game proved decisive.

“The return was the key today. We returned much better [than our opponents], and in the important moments we made some great returns to pull through,” they said.

Van Schalkwyk and Dippenaar echoed similar sentiments, admitting Estonia’s consistency on return made the difference.

“We didn’t get the result we wanted, but it’s always special to represent your country in front of your teammates and home supporters. We hope to qualify again in August and see you back here next year,” they said.

With the tie already decided, the teams agreed to play one remaining singles rubber, a dead rubber, allowing Namibia captain Gerrie Dippenaar to field 17-year-old Ruben Yssel, who made his senior international debut.

Yssel faced Estonia’s Sten Hiiesalu (19), with the Estonian winning 6-2, 6-3. The result counted towards the overall score, sealing a 4-0 victory for Estonia.

Estonia entered the tie as favourites, ranked 62nd on the Davis Cup nations rankings, nine places above Namibia at the time of the last update in November.

The two nations last met in Davis Cup competition in 2003, when Estonia claimed a 3-0 win in the Euro/Africa Group Three tie.

Building depth

Speaking to Sport Wrap, captain Gerrie Dippenaar said there were valuable lessons to take from the tie.

“Although we didn’t get the result we wanted, Namibians should still be proud. For the second consecutive year, we reached the World Group stage,” he said.

He acknowledged that the team was not at full strength but stressed that this was no excuse, adding that depth-building remains a priority.

“Next time we get this opportunity, we hope it will be our third-time lucky and that we’ll finally stay in the group,” he said.

Namibia’s top-ranked player Connor van Schalkwyk was unavailable due to his collegiate commitments at Baylor University in the United States.

Meanwhile, regular number two Jean Erasmus missed the tie after fracturing his wrist. Stand-in Steyn Dippenaar also battled tennis elbow, forcing him to use a double-handed backhand for the first time in two years.
Nguvi Hinda also featured in the team, making his return to the international stage after a two-year absence.
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