Hong Kong won its first round tie against Pacific Oceania in the Asia/Oceania Group II Davis Cup after taking the two reverse singles matches Sunday at the Victoria Park Tennis Centre in the former Crown Colony.
Juan Sebastian Langton replaced Pacific Oceania No. 1 Michael Leong, of Solomon Islands, for the first reverse singles but was unable to recapture the form that endeared him to Fiji tennis fans last year against Lebanon.
With Leong carrying an injury from the doubles, Pacific Oceania team captain Jeff Race chose Langton to play in the first reverse singles.
However, Langton was nowhere near the excellent form he showed several weeks ago in Australia as he went down to Hong Kong’s No. 1 Yu Hiu Tung in three quick sets, 6-2 6-3 6-0. Yu is ranked 934 in singles and 1,312 in doubles in the International Tennis Federation rankings.
Yu’s win gave Hong Kong an unassailable 4-1 lead against the islanders, and with the outcome beyond doubt, Race opted to rest Day 1 winner West Nott of Marshall Islands in favor of 2005 South Pacific Mini Games gold medalist Baudinet.
The strapping netter from Cook Islands fought hard against Hong Kong debutante Michael Lai but eventually fell 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.
The former British colony went on to win the tie in a score of 4-1 with the islanders lone win courtesy of Nott, who defeated Yu 7-6 (10), 6-4, 6-4 on Friday.
Leong lost the first of two opening singles 4-6, 6-4, 2-6, 4-6 against Hong Kong No. 2 Wing-Luen “Wayne” Wong. Leong and Nott then were turned back by Martin Sayer and Wong in the doubles Saturday, 6-1, 3-6, 4-6, 2-6.
Pacific Oceania now faces Malaysia, who was beaten 5-0 by Indonesia, in a Group II relegation tie. Both sides will play in Noumea, New Caledonia from April 7 to 9.
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