Sweep of Saudi boosts RP’s Davis Cup odds

The Philippines put itself in position to jump out of Davis Cup ignominy on Saturday. Sustaining the same deadly form they had all week, the Filipino netters drubbed Saudi Arabia, 3-0, for their fourth straight shut-out victory and a slot in Group II of the 2006 Davis Cup – Asia Oceania tennis tournament at the Manila Polo Club. Filipino-American stars Erik Taino and Cecil Mamiit again led the charge by turning back their singles foes before homegrown talents PJ Tierro and Johnny Arcilla made quick work of their doubles assignment that formally got the Philippines out of Group III in overwhelming fashion. The Philippines, after victories over Sri Lanka, Singapore, Vietnam, and the Saudis, rendered its clash with Iran on Sunday no-bearing. “It’s nice playing in the country where people are rooting for you. All in all, the team played very well and the crowd support is certainly a big help,"' said Mamiit, the 2005 Southeast Asian Games singles champion. Mamiit, a veteran of Grand Slam events like the US Open and Wimbledon, showed too much class in a 6-0, 6-0 crushing of Saleh Al-Rajeh, a few minutes after Taino came back from a first-set loss to rip Fahad Al-Saad, 1-6, 6-0, 6-3. “I got off quite scared playing behind, but once I gained control, things went better," said the 30-year-old Taino, whose first-set loss silenced the big weekend crowd at this posh venue. Taino then buckled down to work in the second set, breaking the Saudi for the first point and showing dominant form the rest of the way. Arcilla and Tierro then ripped the Bader Al-Mugail and Al-Saad tandem, 6-2, 6-2, in the doubles. With Arcilla taking care of matters in the net and the power-hitting Tierro firing from the baseline, the Filipinos made it a field day for the hosts in just 45 minutes. “We don't belong in Group III, we just had a bad draw last year and slid here," said national head coach Martin Misa after the win. - INQ7.Net