Tough weekend ahead for Sri Lanka

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Category: tennis

Published on Thursday, 09 February 2012 01:33

Written by Guyanga Weerasekera

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Sri Lanka VsThailand : Asia Oceania Group II, 1st round, Davis Cup 2012

Davis Cup, the world’s premier men’s team tennis event is back in the island nation. After a fantastic showing during last year’s group 3 zonal event, Sri Lanka earned a well-deserved promotion spot. Last year Sri Lanka had the privilege of fielding one of the strongest teams in recent times with multiple national champion Harshana Godamanna, doubles specialist Rajiv Rajapaksha, the current national champion Dineshkanthan Thangarajah and the US based Oshada Wijemanna. However Godamanna, Rajapaksha and Wijemanna all have pulled out of this week’s clash against Thailand, citing personal commitments.

Thangarajah will be joined by 3 young Davis Cup debutants, Amresh Jayawickreme, current Junior National Champion Vimuktha De Alwis, and Nishangan Nadarajah.The weight of the tie clearly will fall upon Thangarajah’s shoulders as he will be expected to do ‘a Godamanna’by playing both singles and doubles during the weekend. De Alwis is most likely to play the other singles and Jayawickreme the doubles with Thangarajah. Rohan De Silva, a vibrant figure in the local tennis circles will be the non-playing captain.

Sri Lanka’s opponents Thailand are considered to be ‘giants’ in Asian tennis, played in the Davis Cup ‘World Group’ in 2002. The Thai number 1 and world number 162, DanaiUdomchoke will be leading the visitors charge. Udomchoke is a seasoned campaigner, even competed in the recently concluded Australian Open, where he lost to the Frenchman and world number 12, Gilles Simon in 5 sets! Udomchoke will be supported by KittiphongWachiramanowong, doubles specialist SanchaiRatiwatana, and WeerapatDoakmaiklee who are full time tennis professionals. Former world number 9 and Thai tennis hero ParadornSrichaphanwill serve as non-playing captain. Srichapan is well known for his win over Andre Agassi at Wimbledon back in 2002.

On paper, the locals look to be done and dusted already. However, this ‘home advantage effect’ is a funny business. The Thai’s will definitely feel extremely uneasy about playing on Sri Lanka’s dusty clay courts add to the hot humid Colombo temperature which will undoubtedly toil with both teams. This tie should also provide the inexperienced local’s much needed professional tennis exposure.

The event will be worked off at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association, Green Path on 10th 11th and 12th February. Matches will begin at 10am each day and this is your chance to witness professional tennis in Colombo.

 

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