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Davis Cup tie in March:

Sri Lanka face tough task against Kiwis

There is eager anticipation amongst ardent followers of tennis here, of the forthcoming group two New Zealand Davis Cup squad that will pit its might in the all important tennis tie against Sri Lanka from Friday March 5 and conclude on Sunday, March 7 at the SLTA courts.

The tie has generated much interest amongst local fans and, the question that looms in the minds of some is, as to whether we, up against a formidable Kiwi side, will stand to be relegated to Group 3 or promoted to Group I which will be very good or, continue to remain in Group two. All we dare say is that its speculative thinking, based on conjecture, arising out of a sense of pessimism.

But that which has to be said in favour of our side, is that their morale is high and is currently training hard in Thailand. The Sri Lanka Squad comprises the former Royalists Harshana Godamanne, Rajeev Rajapakse, Former Peterite, Dinesh Kanthan and Sanka Athukorale - with Asiri Talamalgoda as the non-playing captain and Angelo Patrick as Manager.

It must be mentioned the world group with 16 nations is the pinnacle of the competition. The remaining nations compete in Groups I-IV, divided across three regional zones: Americas, Asia/Oceanic and Europe/Africa.

The first competition was against Holland where Sri Lanka lost 5-0. It was also mentioned that Ceylon does not need to send a Davis Cup team the following year as they lost to the weak side in Europe.

Alas, all this is past history now for we have come a long way since then, to hold our own with a very high standard of tennis.

Sri Lanka has not played in Group 2 since 1999. It took 11 long years to get back to Group 2. Sri Lanka’s best ever performance in the Davis Cup was making the Group 2 semifinals for four successive years from 1989-1992 and again in 1995.

In 2001, Sri Lanka was demoted to Group 4 and in 2004 was promoted back to Group 3 in Jordan. In 2009 Sri Lanka bounced back to Group 2 when played in Syria. That team comprised Harshana Godamanne, Rajeev Rajapakse, Sanka Athukorala, Guyanga Weerasekera and Asiri Iddamalgoda, as non-playing captain.

In this current tie against the Kiwis, much will depend on our front line player Harshana, a seasoned campaigner, who does not easily drop a match without a fight be in the single, reverse or doubles. Equally competent is Rajapakse and so there is every likehood of maintaining our position in Group 2

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