Ling faces tough decisions in Jakarta
With local number one Goran Bosalevski misfiring, Davis Cup captain Derek Ling was left in a sticky situation yesterday as Hong Kong slipped behind, 2-1, to Indonesia in the Asia-Oceania Zone group two tie in Jakarta.
Hong Kong face a mountain to climb today after the opening day ended with the hosts leading. To make matters worse, Ling is undecided whether Bosalevski, who slumped to a 6-2 6-2 6-1 loss to Christopher Rungkat in his opening singles, should play in the first reverse singles.
'I have not decided who will play the first reverse singles as yet. It is going to be very tough to win both singles and come back,' said Ling after Hong Kong pair Martin Sayer and Michael Lai Xiaoping lost the doubles.
Indonesians Rungkat and Andery Styawanto defeated Sayer and Lai 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 in the crucial doubles to take a 2-1 lead.
The opening singles were shared with US-based Sayer drawing first blood for Hong Kong with a straight sets win over Elbert Sie in a match that lasted more than eight hours due to players being kept off court by four rain delays.
The 20-year-old Sayer defeated Sie 6-0, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4).
