Joel Ajayi
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) has revealed Nigeria’s likely opponents in the Davis Cup World Group II playoffs scheduled for January/February 2025.
Nigeria Tennis Live had reported that a source within the ITF confirmed that the draws would be held in October barring any last-minute change.
And true to his words, the ITF has announced that the draws will be held on Monday, 7 October 2024, at the ITF Offices in London by 12pm local time.
A post on the Davis Cup website reads: “Two nations who lost World Group II ties in September (and would have competed in the 2025 World Group II Play-offs) will compete in the World Group I Play-offs. Four nations who failed to win promotion from regional Group III events (and would have not played again until the 2025 Group III events) will now contest the World Group II Play-offs next year.
“Winning nations from the 2025 World Group I Play-offs will compete in World Group I ties in September alongside the losing nations from the 2025 Qualifiers first round. Losing nations from the 2025 World Group I Play-offs and winning nations from the 2025 World Group II Play-offs will compete in World Group II ties in September.
“Losing nations from the 2025 World Group II Play-offs will compete in regional Group III events later in the year”.
Below are Nigeria’s likely opponents in the World Group II Playoffs, as captured on the Davis Cup website ahead of the draws.
2025 World Group II Play-offs
Seeded nations
Two of the following four nations: Latvia, Mexico, New Zealand, Pakistan
AND
Ireland (3)
Morocco (4)
South Africa (5)
El Salvador (6)
Hong Kong, China (7)
Estonia (8)
Bolivia (9)
Slovenia (10)
China, P.R. (11)
Paraguay (12)
Thailand (13)
Unseeded nations
Benin
Cyprus
Dominican Republic
Indonesia
Jamaica
Moldova
Montenegro
Namibia
Nigeria
Saudi Arabia
Syria
Venezuela
Zimbabwe
*The 2025 competition structure requires two additional teams in the World Group I Play-offs. Latvia, Mexico, New Zealand, and Pakistan are all ranked 46= in the latest Davis Cup Nations Rankings and are the highest-ranked losing nations in 2024 World Group II. Lots will be drawn to determine which two nations will be elevated to the 2025 World Group I Play-offs.
**The 2025 competition structure requires four additional teams in the World Group II Play-offs. Benin, Indonesia, Jamaica, and Moldova were the highest-ranked nations not to win promotion at each of the four 2024 regional Group III events.
Nigerians will be eager to know which team the Davis Cup team will be facing come 2025 as preparations will hit top gear as soon as the draws have been completed.
