One win stands between Sri Lanka and their promotion to Group II, as the team will have one final tie where they face Qatar tomorrow (22nd), which would be the decisive play-off in the Davis Cup Asia-Oceania Group III.
The Davis Cup Group III Asia-Oceania that started at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association on Monday consisted of nine teams contesting in two groups for two promotion positions to the upper group which is the Group II. The ties are played as a team event with each tie consisting two singles and a doubles game.
Sri Lanka was relegated last year from the upper group as the Islanders lost to both Thailand and Indonesia.
As Colombo plays host to the important Group III play-off, Sri Lanka had an impressive start on paper as they top the Group A in the play-off winning against Jordan, Pacific Oceania and Syria in the group stage.
Read about Sri Lanka’s win against Jordan
Sri Lanka sits right on top of the table with three wins and along with Jordan qualified for the semifinals and will play the group topper and second placed team from Group B. Lebanon who got relegated in 2015 topped the Group B winning all their games and in second was Qatar.
Sri Lanka has with themselves a do-or-die battle in front of them and the hosts will need to showcase their ‘A’ game in Saturday’s promotion clash.
Undefeated Godamanne will be key
Sri Lanka’ tennis veteran will have to shoulder the weight of the nation for one more time in this promotion tie and carry his winning streak forward.
Playing his 17th year in the Davis Cup Godamanne has a winning streak of 3 games straight in the singles and it will be something that he will be looking to improve this weekend.
Harshana will be key for Sri Lanka when they face Qatar where Sri Lanka require his services both in the singles and well as the doubles. He will team up with Sharmal Dissanayake for the doubles and the duo together has been the unstoppable.
Dissanayake will need to step up
Sri Lanka’s second option, Sharmal Dissanayake will have to step up in his role with one important tie coming up against Qatar. Dissanayake won his single in the first tie against Jordan defeating Mousa Alkatop but could not add the wins in the next two ties in the singles.
However, the Godamanne-Dissanayake doubles combination has done the trick for the country throughout the tie and the pair were victorious in the two doubles encounters against Syria and Pacific Oceania. The only handicap was the doubles against Jordan where Sri Lanka had to give a walkover with an injury to Dissanayake.
The only worry Sri Lanka should have should be their backup options other than Godamanne and Dissanayake. In the case of an injury, Sri Lanka should be having either Yasitha De Silva or Nishangan Nadaraja ready to make it to the court.
ThePapare.com will be bringing you live action from the Davis Cup Group III Asia Oceania Promotion tie on 22nd July 2017 on Dialog Tv Channel 1, MyTv and on ThePapare.com
Davis Cup Group III Asia-Oceania Playoff – Semifinals
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