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RP IN ROUSING START, TAKES 2-0 LEAD VS PAKISTAN IN DAVIS CUP TIE By Ronnie Nathanielsz PhilBoxing.com Fri, 04 Apr 2014  The Philippines got off to a rousing start in its Asia-Oceania Group Zone II Davis Cup tie against Pakistan winning both opening day?s singles to take a commanding 2-0 lead at the Philippine Colombian Club clay court in Paco, Manila. In the opening match lanky PJ Tierro who has played some excellent tennis in recent weeks, rewarded team manager Roland Kraut who picked him over the PCA?s clay court specialist Johnny Arcilla, by winning in straight sets over Pakistan?s No. 1 singles player, veteran Aqeel Khan while Ruben Gonzales maintained his his solid form in whipping young hopeful Samir Ifthikar also in straight sets. Tierro won 7-5, 6-4, 6-4 over Aqeel who had bannered Pakistan in their gripping 3-2 victory over Vietnam by winning two singles and the doubles in which he partnered the No. 15 ranked Aisam Quereshi to clinch the chance to face the Philippines once again. Tierro broke Aqeel in the opening game and held serve to race to a 2-0 lead before Khan held his own serve with an ace and then after some exciting rallies the Pakistani took the lead for the first time when he held serve to go ahead 4-3. Back to back aces by Aqeel saw him take a 5-4 lead but PJ with a couple of tremendous serves tied the count at 5-5. Despite ripping a fifth ace past Tierro , a forehand error and a crucial double fault enabled Tierro to edge in front 6-5. After games went to deuce three times the big serving Tierro clinched the set 7-5. The opening game of the second set duplicated the first as Khan was broken but the gritty Pakistani clawed back to break Tierro and held serve to lead 2-1. After Tierro held serve Khan committed his second double fault of the match but two successive passing shots that nicked the line enabled him to break Tierro to lead 4-2. Tierro whipped back-to-back aces that stranded Aqeel and following another big serve pounced on a poor return to hammer a winner to take the second set 6-4. A Tierro ace, his third and a perfect drop shot made it 1-1 in the third set before Aqeel?s sixth ace gave him a 2-1 lead. PJ responded with his own ace, the fourth of the match and after a Khan double fault PJ blasted his 5th ace to ease in front 5-2 but Aqeel still had some fight left him in and after breaking Tierro he served three aces in a row to come to within 5-4 before Tierro, not to be outdone served his sixth ace to take the set 6-4 and wrap up the match. Gonzales used his powerful first serve, some superb ground strokes and exquisite drop shots and volleys to confound young Samir Ifthikar, the rising Pakistan star from the University of New Mexico who unfortunately faced Gonzales at his best. Behind successive aces that enabled him to take a 4-3 lead, Gonzalez played the steadier tennis to break Samir and win the first set 6-4. A third double fault by Samir and a fourth ace by Gonzales saw the Filipino race to a 4-1 lead before wrapping up the second set comfortably at 6-3. Delicate drop shots mixed with some tremendous half-volleys and sizzling forehands saw Samir?s game fall apart enabling Gonzales to take the third set easily 6-1 and to give the Philippines a confidence boosting 2-0 lead going into the crucial doubles on Saturday when Filipinos will get a chance to watch two of the finest and top ranked doubles players in the world confront each on either side with Aisam Quereshi teaming up with Aqeel Khan and Treat Huey partnering Gonzales in a bid to clinch the tie for the Philippines with a victory. Both Tierro and Gonzales said the scores in their matches were no indication of how close they were even as they paid tribute to the quality of the Pakistani players. Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.  |
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