Preparations are under way at the SLTA playing courts for the much awaited clash as Sri Lanka take on Lebanon in the Davis Cup Asia Oceania Group II relegation series.
Hosts Sri Lanka will have a tough challenge ahead of them when they face Lebanon this weekend as this clash is a must win for the Lankans if they intend to remain in the top tier in the Asia Oceania clash and to stay ahead in the ATP world rankings.
Sri Lanka made its debut to the Davis Cup in the 1953 and since then they have been a part of 124 ties with a total of 58 wins and 66 losses. Sri Lanka reached the Asia Oceania Group II tier for the first time in the year 1989 and retained their position till 1992. Later Sri Lanka has been successful in getting their entry to the upper tier in 1995 and recently in the year 2012.
The hosts were successful enough to hold on to their top division for the past two years alongside the heavyweights such as Philippines & Chinese Taipei. In 2012, Sri Lanka lost to Thailand 3-2 being the best of five games but survived the tier by defeating Hong Kong. Similarly the Lankan contingent lost out to the neighboring Pakistan in 2013 but escaped relegation when they defeated Lebanon 3-2.
Sri Lanka in 2015 faced one of their biggest defeats in the tourney in February when they were humiliated in the Philippines where the visitors were whitewashed 5-0. In an effort to retain their top draw, Sri Lanka will clash against Lebanon in this relegation clash at home since Sri Lanka got the privilege of the choice of ground.
Veteran Sri Lankan tennis player Harshana Godamanne will be the key for the Davis cup encounter with him being Sri Lanka’s most accomplished Davis cup player to date. In his Davis cup career of over a decade, Godamanne has with him an outstanding record of 55 wins as opposed to only 18 losses.
“This has been the first occasion for a long time since a team of this caliber for the Davis Cup. We have a complete unit and we have been practicing for a period of two weeks and I think we are working together and getting our shots sorted out as we ready ourselves to face Lebanon.
It should be an easy attempt as we have won with them on four different occasions in the Davis Cup history and our coach Dominic has been working closely with us throughout this series. He was my personal trainer earlier and now he has been helping the national contingent for the Davis cup. All in all we should be having good competition from our opponents but we are confident of winning.”
This is the first instance where Sri Lanka has a complete outfit when it comes to talent and skill which includes the top seeds in the country. Along with Godamanne will be the four time defending national champion Thangarajah Dineshkanthan who is considered the veteran in the sport dominating the national arena over the past five years. Dineshkanthan’s encounter will be a key turning point game for the Sri Lankans in this upcoming series.
Sri Lanka will also include the talents of the up and coming player Sharmal Dissanayake who is currently the only player who has ATP World points under his name along with a world ranking. The 19 year old Dissanayaka will be the nation’s choice for the first single while the team will also have top seed Sanka Athukorale completing the four man team.
The Lankan side is being coached by the veteran ATP and Davis cup player Swiss national Dominic Utzinger. Utzinger who was one time the 280th ranked player in the world has been the regular coach for Sri Lanka since 2002. He has had several training assignments along the past twelve years while he heads the Asian Tennis Academy in Bangkok.
Speaking to the ThePapare, Utzinger had the following to add,
“This in fact is one of the best Davis cup outfits we have seen for a long time. We had tough time in Philippines earlier in this year but this being the relegation series match up we shouldn’t expect easy progress. Lebanon is in fact missing their top seeding player but we are not taking any chances. Sri Lanka should be a green light for Sri Lanka but it is all up to the players to give out their best. “
The Davis cup will be worked out to pick the best of five games that include 4 singles and one double. Whoever gets the better number on the books will be adjudged winners.
ThePapare.com wishes Team Sri Lanka the very best.
