Philippines begins bid to move up to Group I of Davis Cup Asia-Oceania in Indonesia tie

RUBEN Gonzales proved too much for a weary David Agung Susanto, scoring an emphatic 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 win on Sunday to clinch for the Cebuana Lhuillier-Philippines Davis Cup team its Asia-Oceania Group 2 tie against Indonesia at the Philippine Columbian Association indoor courts.

The 31-year-old Gonzales was quick to pounce on his Indonesian foe, aware Susanto was playing for the third straight day going to their reverse singles showdown.

The win gave the host a 3-1 lead in the best-of-five tie, and will advance to the semis even if it loses the final game still being played between AJ Lim Jr. and Aditya Hari Sasongko.

Gonzales, who now has a 10-5 record in Davis Cup, lauded Susanto for trying to keep the fight alive for Indonesia.

“I mean he was playing three matches (for three days), and that was a good effort,” said the Fil-Am netter currently ranked 183 in the world.

The Filipinos now await the winner of the Thailand-Kuwait tie for the semifinals.

The host took a 2-1 lead on Saturday when the tandem of Treat Huey and Francis Casey Alcantara turned back Susanto and partner Sunu-Wahyu Trijati 6-2, 6-4, 6-4 in doubles play.

Gonzales earlier levelled the tie at 1-1 with a 6-2, 6-4, 6-4 victory over Sasongko to make up for the sorry loss of Lim in the first singles match against Susanto, 3-6, 2-6, 6-2, 6-1, 1-1 (retired).

Team manager Jean Henri Lhuillier praised the team which is eyeing to go back to Group 1.

"Our team prepared thoroughly for this tie and it all paid off," he said. "The past few days have shown how determined we are to play our way back to the Davis Cup Asia-Oceania Group 1 and with this, victory, we are right on track towards that goal."

Source: www.spin.ph