by Revata S. Silva

Heavy rains in Colombo hampered the process of finding out the two best nations in this year’s Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Zone Group IV as the organisers had to cancel yesterday’s play till last evening at the SLTA courts, Colombo.

Morning’s play was completely washed off and the organisers were in a situation where they seemed like having to extend the tournament till today from its original final day (22) yesterday.

Saudi Arabia were to play against Oman in their deciding doubles match while Vietnam had their doubles against Myanmar to be completed. That doubles was also to be the decider between the two nations. In both ties which began last Saturday, the two singles matches were won by each country apiece making the score 1-1.

Intermittent rains made the ITF match referee Puneet Gupta call off all consolation matches that were to be played among the four countries - Sri Lanka, Singapore, Bangladesh and Brunei - which could not enter the second round. The hosts were to play against Singapore and Bangladesh in their consolation ties.

Only the three hard courts could be used for play last evening and the Group-IV matches were to be started after the end of the Group II singles matches (reverse) between Hong Kong and Lebanon. The Group II tie was shifted to Sri Lanka from its original venue Hong Kong due to SARS fears.

Hong Kong lead Lebanon

The Group-II Davis Cup tie between Hong Kong and Lebanon which was shifted to Sri Lanka from its original venue Hong Kong because of SARS fears was led 2-1 by Hong Kong on the second day yesterday, at the SLTA hard courts in Colombo.

On Friday, Hong Kong’s Hiu Tung Yu was forced to concede a walk-over to Lebanon’s Patrick Chucri when he succumbed to heat exhaustion and generalised cramps in the fourth set of the first singles. But Hong Kong’s Wayne Wong equalled the tie by winning his singles against Karim Alayli.

The doubles played yesterday was also won by Hong Kong in straight sets. The winner was supposed to be decided after the reverse-singles that were to be played last afternoon. Intermittent rains delayed play and the match could not be started till 5 p.m. last afternoon.
 

P. Chucri (L) bt. Hiu Tung Yu 6/2, 1/6, 6/4, 3/0 (match forfeited)

Wayne Wong (HK) bt. Karim Alayli 1/6, 6/1, 7/5, 6/3.