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Friday, 03/02/2017 10:10

Davis Cup: VN look to beat Hong Kong

Viet Nam will play Hong Kong in a three-day event starting today in HCM City. — Photo courtesy of the Viet Nam Tennis Federation
Viet Nam News

HA NOI — Viet Nam expect to beat Hong Kong for the third time in a row in the first round match of Davis Cup’s Group II, Asia Oceania zone, on Friday.

In the 2013 and 2015 tournaments, Viet Nam had beaten Hong Kong, which grabbed their only win in 2005. “We come prepared,” said captain Truong Quoc Bao. The faceoff will be held at HCM City’s Phu Tho Tennis Club.

In the three-day meet, Viet Nam, apart from having the advantage of playing on home ground, have on their side world No 635 Ly Hoang Nam, the highest seed among all participants. Nam will face Li Hei Yin Andrew, who ranks 1,522 in the world, in the second single’s match.

The first match will see world No 1,443 Nguyen Hoang Thien playing against No 911 Wong Kit Hong.

Nam’s second match will be against Wong in Rubber 4, while Thien will meet Li in Rubber 5.

Young talent Nguyen Dac Tien will pair with former champion Pham Minh Tuan to play in the doubles’ match against Karan Rastogi and Wong Chun Wun. Indian-born Rastogi is an experienced player who has competed with Rafael Nadal in the past.

However, captain Bao may use other options.

Nam and Thien are currently Viet Nam’s best pair after they won a Men’s Futures title last year.

“I have different options and I will make switches based on what happens in the matches. But I would not let them (Hong Kong) know my secret,” Bao said.

Speaking at a press briefing on February 1, Ho Wai Tak David, head of Hong Kong team, said Viet Nam were strong, but his players were powerful. His team has lost to Viet Nam twice in the past, but this time the two sides are equal in strength, so the team that performs better will win, David said.

Captain Michael Thomas Walker said it would be a different result for Hong Kong compared to the past two years as they have prepared well for the Davis Cup. The players’ performances were tested at a domestic event in December, he said, adding that he hoped the weather would be fine so that nothing would affect his team’s abilities.

The winner will play the winner in the clash between Pakistan and Iran from April 7 to 9. — VNS

Ly Hoang Nam of Viet Nam makes a return during his practise for the Davis Cup. Viet Nam will play Hong Kong in a three-day event starting today in HCM City. — Photo courtesy of the Viet Nam Tennis Federation

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