A GNA Profile of Gunther Darkey

Accra, Feb 27, GNA - The GNA Sports Desk profiles Ghana's tennis number two seed Gunther Darkey, ahead of the crunch Euro-Africa Zone II Davis Cup against Finland beginning Friday, March 4 through to Sunday, March 6. He took over from the former icon; Frank Ofori in the new millennium as the top seed and have since been the hub around which the Golden Rackets have revolved

Gunther, 27, a quiet but firm-minded gentleman has struggled with the team in the Euro-Africa Zone II category, slumped to Zone III until they recaptured their former position in far away Namibia. The baseliner United Kingdom-based Gunther, is a product of the Ghana's junior team spotted in the 90s after an amazing show of talent including his favourite backhand.

Once Ghana's highest ranked player at 400, Gunther was not as devastating at the junior level as he became when he joined the seniors. His ability to endure to the end, perhaps helped the nation during difficult moments when all seemed to have been lost. No wonder his scintillating performances at the world stage coupled with discipline made him Ghana's number one seed until a nagging injury rendered him inactive.

Weighing 63kg, Gunther got to his peak in 2001 when he was ranked 400, a feat he maintained until he was rocked by the injury. The player would not only be seeking for a great comeback after a five-month injury which kept him out of the court, but also aims at using the Davis Cup as a launch-pad to recapture the top spot. The former top seed made his debut for the Golden Rackets in 1999 as a deputy to Ofori and hopes to re-enact his fearsome form beginning Friday. Though Ghana has not recorded many victories under his reign, the inspirational Gunther has sturdily shown the way with impressive wins over his opponents even when his colleagues had performed below par.