Sri Lanka's Davis Cup hopes dashed

Dilanka Mannakkara

Sri Lanka's Davis Cup hopes were dashed as they won only one game in the final day's play of the Davis Cup tie against Hong Kong at the SLTA Courts yesterday. Sri Lanka who were facing a must win situation yesterday ended up winning one single's event and losing the other match. The Davis Cup tie ended 3-2 in favour of Hong Kong and Sri Lanka will be once again relegated to group 3 in the competition.

Sri Lanka's undisputed champion Harshana Godamanne faced the first game against Hong Kong's star player Martin Sayer. The latter who has recorded over 100 singles wins won a thriller of a match 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Martin won the first set despite some fine cross court shots played by Godamanne as he used his experience to great effect in placing the ball and playing some perfect drop shots.

However Godamanne came back strongly in the second set with some powerful serves and forehands, and won the set 6-3.

Godamanne's joy was short lived as Martin pelted some flaming hot serves from both sides which were unplayable and won the remaining two sets 6-3 and 6-4. Godamanne who manufactured some brilliant aces failed to add the finishing touches and some unforced errors cost him the match.

Bottom seed Dineshkanthan Thangarajagh played the next game which was a dead rubber against rookie Gilbert Wong and took the game easily with straight set wins 6-3, 6-2.

Nineteen-year-old Dineshkanthan who was making his first appearance in a Davis Cup played some delightful forehands coupled with smashes and thundering backhands.

Wong had no clue over the rocket serves of Dineshkanthan and Dinesh won several points through aces.