Việt Nam’s top tennis player Lý Hoàng Nam. — VTF Photo
HÀ NỘI — Despite some shaky moments, Việt Nam's national tennis team beat Sri Lanka 3-0 in Group A of the Davis Cup Group III Asia-Oceania Zone in Singapore on Wednesday.
In the first match, Trịnh Linh Giang easily beat Dineskanthan Thangarajah 2-0 (6-2, 6-3).
The second match looked sure to be a simple affair as Việt Nam’s top player Lý Hoàng Nam, world rank 405, took on Sri Lanka's number one Harshna Godamanna, world rank 1822.
However, the 34-year-old Sri Lankan player tapped into his experience, beating Nam 6-2 in the first set. Godamanna took a 3-1 lead in the next set but Nam fought back to win 6-4 and level the score at 1-1.
The third set saw some truly nervous moments as Nam took a 3-0 lead but allowed Godamanna to level the score at 3-3. The two players couldn't find any separation, with the score rising to 6-6 and requiring a tie-break.
In the tie-break, the Tây Ninh Province–born Nam easily beat Godamanna 7-2 to win the match 2-1.
In the last men’s doubles match, Phạm Minh Tuấn and Lê Quốc Khánh dispatched their rivals in two sets (6-1, 6-2).
Việt Nam’s goal is to win Group A to gain a berth in Group II next year. — VNS
Vietnamese pair Phạm Minh Tuấn and Lê Quốc Khánh. — VTF Photo
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