Egypt and Morocco were promoted to the Davis Cup's Europe/Africa Zone Group II next year after winning their playoff against Zimbabwe and Madagascar. In the promotional play-off Egypt defeated Zimbabwe 2-1 while Morocco beat Madagascar 2-0. Under the supervision of the International Tennis Federation (ITF), the Egyptian Tennis Federation (ETF) hosted the Davis Cup Europe/Africa Zone Group III 2013, the world's largest annual international team competition for men. The championship took place at the Smash Tennis Academy in Cairo from 14-18 May. Countries participating were Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Cameroon, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Namibia, Rwanda, Nigeria, Botswana and Zambia. The 13 teams were divided into four round-robin pools. Morocco, Algeria, Cameroon were in pool A while pool B included Zimbabwe, Ghana, Kenya. In pool C were Madagascar, Namibia, Rwanda while pool D was composed of Egypt, Nigeria, Botswana and Zambia. The Egyptian team consisted of its top seed Mohamed Safwat, followed by Sherif Sabri, Karim Mohamed Maamoun and Karim Hossam and technical director of the Egyptian team captain Khaled Baligh and assistant coach Karim Maamoun. Safwat is ranked 400, Sabri 458, Maamoun 642 and Hossam 1,168 in the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) tour world rankings. President of the Egyptian Tennis Federation (ETF) Israa Al-Sanhouri said, “the ETF prepared the Egyptian team. They participated in many tournaments in Solimanyia and Sharm El-Sheikh.” ITF tournament referee Iain Smith told Al-Ahram Weekly, “the ETF has done a good job in organising in terms of general requirements and general rules to be placed to host the tournament. There is no complaining from the teams or coaches. They take care of all the teams. Smash Academy has great facilities. It hosted many events last year.” In pool A round robin, Morocco beat Algeria and Cameroon 3-0. In pool D round robin, Egypt got off to a good start beating Zambia 3-0. Egypt's Maamoun defeated Zambian Nkumbu Chonya 6-0, 6-2. In the second match single, Safwat beat Zambian Edgar Kazembe 6-3, 6-1. In the third match doubles, Hossam and Sabri teamed up to defeat Zambian Henry Banda and Kombo Mabo 6-0, 6-0. In the second day, Egypt defeated Nigeria 3-0. Sabry defeated Nigerian Abdul-Mumin Babalola 6-2, 6-1. Safwat beat Clifford Enosoregbe 6-4, 6-2. Hossam and Maamoun teamed up to beat Nigerian Babalola and Lawal Shehu 6-3, 3-6, 6-3. On the third day, in the decisive game, Egypt beat Botswana 3-0. Sabri won the first match from Botswana's Shingiria Muzondiwa 6-0, 6-0. In the second match single, Safwat beat Botswana's Phenyo Matong 6-1, 6-0. In the third match, the doubles duo of Hossam and Maamoun defeated Botswana's Matong and Innocent Tidimane 6-1, 6-1. In the positional play-offs, Algeria defeated Namibia 2-1 and Ghana defeated Nigeria 2-1. Algeria and Ghana tied for fifth place while Namibia and Nigeria tied for seventh. Cameroon defeated Rwanda 3-0 and Botswana defeated Kenya 2-1 so Cameroon and Botswana ended the event tied in ninth place with Rwanda and Kenya tied in 11th. Zambia finished in last place. Egypt first played in the Davis Cup in 1929. Its best performance was reaching the Europe/ Africa Zone Group I semi-finals, which it achieved in 1982 and 1985. The Davis Cup by BNP Paribas is the largest annual international team competition in sport. One of the cornerstones of the tennis year, this prestigious event gives players the chance to represent their country in an otherwise individual sport. Founded by Dwight Davis in 1900, the Davis Cup began as a challenge match between the United States and the British Isles, which was held at the Longwood Cricket Club in the US city of Boston. Davis himself played in the inaugural Davis Cup tie, steering his country to the first of many title victories. The US has won the Davis Cup 32 times, more than any other nation. BNP Paribas replaced NEC as title sponsor of the event in 2002 after joining the Davis Cup family as an international sponsor in 2001. Entering the 2010 Davis Cup by BNP Paribas were 133 countries, with the leading 16 nations contesting the World Group.
