Kiwis grab 2-0 vs Filipinos

The Philippines found itself in a dangerous 0-2 hole against New Zealand after losing the first two singles matches in the final round tie of the Davis Cup Asia Oceania Group 2 at the Plantation Bay Resort and Spa.

New Zealand’s No. 2 player Michael Venus rallied from a 1-2 deficit to beat Ruben Gonzales of the Philippines in the first singles match, 4-6, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (6), 6-0. Pinoy Johnny Arcilla then failed to even the score as he lost to New Zealand’s No.1 player Jose Rubin Statham, 4-6, 2-6, 4-6, in the second singles match.

Venus struggled from the start, losing the first and third sets, but gained steam when he forced a tie and won the tiebreak in the fourth set. With momentum on his side, Venus blanked Gonzales in the fifth after the Pinoy bet netted a forehand return on matchpoint.

The match was reminiscent of the first Davis Cup singles played here at the Plantation Bay wherein Cecil Mamiit lost to Japan’s Go Soeda back in 2011.

It was a painful loss for Gonzales, considering that he actually had a chance to close the first singles match in his favor when he had matchpoint while leading the fourth set, 5-4.

Venus saved the matchpoint by forcing a deuce then winning the advantage to level the set at 5-all. Gonzales held serve to go up 6-5 but Venus also held his own to force a tiebreak.

Gonzales went up 2-0 in the tiebreak before Venus scored his first point when Gonzales’s return went wide. Gonzales then took a 3-1 lead when Venus netted his return serve to Gonzales’s forehand shot.

But Venus slowly clawed his way back and eventually leveled the tiebreak at 4-all when Gonzales’s crosscourt returns started going wide. From that point, Venus never dropped a game until he wrapped up the first singles match in his favor.

In the second match, Statham showed why he is the best in New Zealand as he swept Arcilla despite suffering from cramps in the third set.

The Philippines aims to break into the win column when Treat Conrad Huey, the world’s No. 28 in doubles, and Francis “Casey” Alcantara pair up to face New Zealand’s duo of Venus and Marcus Daniell in the doubles match starting at 6 p.m. today. Both teams have an option to change lineup an hour before the match.