Asia/Oceania Zone III tennis:

Sri Lanka elevated to Group II

by Chris DHAMBARAGE

TENNIS: Sri Lanka was elevated promotion to the Division II when they defeated Malaysia 2-1 in a crucial Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Zone III tennis tournament match worked off at the SLTA courts in Green Path yesterday.

Sri Lanka remained unbeaten throughout the tournament and went on to head their group following earlier victories against Vietnam, Myanmar and Kuwait respectively.

The Lankans continued with their impressive performances in the tournament and sealed the match by winning the opening two singles quite convincingly. Their only concern was the doubles encounter which they lost to their opponents in straight sets.

However Sri Lanka got off to a flying start and took an unbeatable two nil lead following some splendid work by their two most experienced players Oshada Wijemanna and Harshana Godamanna.

The former gave Sri Lanka the perfect start in their attempt to register their fourth successive victory by outplaying Si Yew Ming in straight sets 6-4, 7-5. Wijemanna of course came under pressure in the second set before he held on determindly to clinch the match on a tie breaker.

In contrast Harshana Godamanna had a more convincing outing as he defeated Ariez Elyaas also in straight sets 6-1, 6-2. The feature in this outing was that Godamanna was in total control of the situation and conceded just three points during the entire contest.

Sri Lanka of course could not make a clean sweep as Malaysia redeemed some prestige by pulling off the doubles fixture in straight sets.

Their combination of Si Yew and A. Deedat had the better of Sri Lanka's Rajeev Rajapaksa and T. Dineshkanthan 6-4, 6-2 after a gruelling contest.

Sri Lanka having already booked a place in the Davis Cup Zone II will now battle it for the first and second place of the tournament with a match against Lebanon at the same venue scheduled for today.

The results:

Oshada Wijemanne beat Si Yew Ming 6-4, 7-5.

Harshana Godamanne beat Ariez Elyaas 6-1, 6-2.

Rajeev Rajapakse and T. Dineshkanthan lost to Si Yew and A. Deedat 4-6, 2-6.