Visser slams critics' comments

BREMEN -- Captain of the MTN SA Davis Cup team Danie Visser, hit back at critics of his team after their 5-0 loss to Germany over the weekend, calling some of their comments "ludicrous" and "ridiculous."

The two biggest critics were Germany's captain Carl-Uwe Steeb and former player Kevin Curren, who is a team selector and television commentator.

Curren claimed both Wayne Ferreira, in his match against Tommy Haas on Friday, and the doubles combination of David Adams and Ellis Ferreira, in their rubber against Boris Becker and David Prinosil, did not use the correct tactics.

Ferreira, said Curren, should have been more aggressive and not play Haas from the baseline, while the doubles duo had failed to target Prinosil, who he saw as the weaker player on the court.

"When they met at the Hopman Cup Wayne had beaten Haas playing in a certain way," said Visser. "He felt comfortable doing the same thing and was attempting to play more aggressively.

"But it's not that easy. Haas was playing really well.''

As far as the doubles was concerned, Visser, a former world number one doubles player, said it was easy to sit up in a commentary box and analyse matches afterwards.

"The tactic to play Prinosil is ludicrous. I've never heard anything more ridiculous in my life.

"Both Becker and Prinosil are world class players. I totally disagree with their analysis.''

As far as Steeb's comments were concerned, Visser felt Ferreira's fitness was not a concern at all and did not play a role in his loss to Haas. Stafford though was another story.

Where did Visser feel it all went wrong? "I think Grant's fitness may have played a slight role. After that we had our backs against the wall. They just played very well, in the doubles and Haas against Wayne in particular," said Visser.

A couple of the team members had a go at Curren. "When Danie was coaching Wayne, Kevin complained that being Davis Cup captain as well was a conflict of interest.

"Surely his being a selector and commentator is also a conflict of interest?."

l Former world number one Steffi Graf is unlikely to be at the MTN women's tennis tournament to be played in Johannesburg from April 23 to 26.

Graf pulled a hamstring at a recent American tournament and has not played since.

MTN tournament organiser Franco Barocas said Graf would be released from her contract as long as they could find a suitable replacement.

l Meanwhile, Coetzer has parted company with her coach, Gavin Hopper.

While no official reason has been given for the world number four's split with her coach of three years, word has it that it had a lot to do with him advising Coetzer not to play in the Fed Cup.