MOBILE, Ala. – If University of South Alabama men's tennis junior Tuki Jacobs' fourth trip to the Davis Cup with Namibia is any indication, next year should be even better.

While the team failed to get promoted into Europe/Africa Zone Group II, Jacobs says there were improvements.

"Last year, we got to the semifinals for the first time since 2004, and this year we got to the semis, plus we beat Algeria, who we'd never beaten before. So that's another step forward, and I'm hoping next year we can do something better than this year, which is get promoted."

Nambia posted a 2-1 record in group play, defeating Ghana and Algeria, before falling to Egypt in the semifinals. Jacobs played a key part in the opening Ghana victory, picking up wins in singles and doubles.

"I thought that we could get promoted, especially after day one when Deon (Van Dyk) played well, so it convinced me this could be a good week. I was pretty positive."

Jacobs went 2-2 in singles and 2-0 in doubles over the week-long event in October. His two losses came to players ranked in the top 300 by the ATP.

"I played well," Jacobs reflected. "I kept it professional, and I think if I try to act professionally on the court, then I play better. That helped me a lot. I told myself, win or lose, just get off the court doing the right thing. Right attitude, play the right way, and I guess that helped me play better as well. It was a good week."

After the win over Ghana, Namibia fell 3-0 to Tunisia, with Jacobs winning just one game in a 6-0, 6-1 loss to Malek Jaziri, ranked No. 92 in the world at the time.

However, Namibia and Jacobs – who accounted for both points in a 2-1 victory – bounced back for a crucial win over Algeria to place second in their group and move on to the semifinals.

Jacobs, a native of Windhoek, sites the 6-1, 6-3 victory against Tunisia's Mohamed Hassen as his top moment of the week.

"He outplayed me last year, and this year I just hit him off the court. I feel like that was a big win for me because it was on clay and he's a natural-born clay court player. I was happy to take that win, but I also played OK against Egypt's No. 1."

Jacobs took on Mohamed Safwat of Egypt in a fight for promotion, but lost a 6-4, 6-4 decision as Namibia was eliminated 2-0.

"I'm pleased with how we did," Jacobs said. "It's exciting for us to know what I'm coming back to next year."

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