siyalladath
03-08-2010, 06:42 AM
http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/statham_220x14757939.jpg Rubin Statham won the deciding match against Rajeev Rajapakse in straight sets. Photo / Steven McNicholl
New Zealand began the long trek back to top-level Asia-Oceania tennis with a 3-2 Davis Cup group two win over Sri Lanka in Colombo this weekend.
The New Zealanders won the opening singles matches, Rubin Statham grinding out a gruelling five-set win over Harshana Godamanna and Daniel King-Turner accounting for Rajeev Rajapakse in four.
However, Godamanna and Rajapakse had little difficulty in taking the doubles over Davis Cup debutant Marcus Daniell and King-Turner, winning 7-6(5) 6-4 6-3.
Body cramps hit King-Turner after being on court for nearly five hours in his reverse singles match against Godamanna, and he was forced to retire at 0-3 down in the fifth set. King-Turner was hospitalised for four hours, suffering from dehydration.
However, Statham had little difficulty in wrapping up the rubber with a 6-1 6-0 7-5 win over Rajapakse in two hours straight.
New Zealand now face Pakistan, who beat Hong Kong in the second round, at a venue yet to be decided.
Results
http://apn-images.adbureau.net/apn/accipiter/images/AE1.gif (http://ads.apn.co.nz/accipiter/adclick/CID=fffffffcfffffffcfffffffc/aamsz=440X400/POS=POS2/acc_random=41922001277/pageid=56869660346/site=NZH/area=CAT.TENNIS.STY/keyword=tennis%20nz%20sri%20lanka%20davis%20cup%20 sport%20zealand%20began%20long%20trek%20back%20top %20level%20asia%20oceania%20group%20two%20win%20co lombo%20weekend%20zealanders%20won%20opening%20sin gles%20matches%20rubin%20statham%20grinding%20grue lling%20five%20set%20harshana%20godamanna%20daniel %20king%20turner%20accounting)
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NZ 3 Sri Lanka 2
Rubin Statham (NZ) beat Harshana Godamanna (SRI) 6-4 3-6 6-4 3-6 6-4, Dan King-Turner (NZ) beat Rajeev Rajapakse (SRI) 6-2 3-6 6-1 6-2, Godamanna and Rajapakse (SRI) beat King-Turner and Marcus Daniell (NZ) 7-6(5) 6-4 6-3, Godamanna (SRI) beat King-Turner (NZ) 4-6 4-6 7-5 7-6(4) 3-0 (ret), Statham (NZ) beat Rajapakse (SRI ) 6-1 6-0 7-5.
New Zealand began the long trek back to top-level Asia-Oceania tennis with a 3-2 Davis Cup group two win over Sri Lanka in Colombo this weekend.
The New Zealanders won the opening singles matches, Rubin Statham grinding out a gruelling five-set win over Harshana Godamanna and Daniel King-Turner accounting for Rajeev Rajapakse in four.
However, Godamanna and Rajapakse had little difficulty in taking the doubles over Davis Cup debutant Marcus Daniell and King-Turner, winning 7-6(5) 6-4 6-3.
Body cramps hit King-Turner after being on court for nearly five hours in his reverse singles match against Godamanna, and he was forced to retire at 0-3 down in the fifth set. King-Turner was hospitalised for four hours, suffering from dehydration.
However, Statham had little difficulty in wrapping up the rubber with a 6-1 6-0 7-5 win over Rajapakse in two hours straight.
New Zealand now face Pakistan, who beat Hong Kong in the second round, at a venue yet to be decided.
Results
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NZ 3 Sri Lanka 2
Rubin Statham (NZ) beat Harshana Godamanna (SRI) 6-4 3-6 6-4 3-6 6-4, Dan King-Turner (NZ) beat Rajeev Rajapakse (SRI) 6-2 3-6 6-1 6-2, Godamanna and Rajapakse (SRI) beat King-Turner and Marcus Daniell (NZ) 7-6(5) 6-4 6-3, Godamanna (SRI) beat King-Turner (NZ) 4-6 4-6 7-5 7-6(4) 3-0 (ret), Statham (NZ) beat Rajapakse (SRI ) 6-1 6-0 7-5.