Win Davis Cup doubles in three straight sets

Sri Lankans roast Kiwis under Colombo’s hot sun

Sri Lanka’s tennis ace Harshana Godamanna combined with Rajeev Rajapakse to pull off a decisive doubles win over the visiting New Zealand pair in their Davis Cup Asia-Oceania group two tie yesterday.
The 7/6, 6/4, 6/3 straight set victory over Daniel King-Turner and Marcus Daniell on the Sri Lanka Tennis Association clay courts in scorching conditions brought Sri Lanka back into contention. After winning Friday’s two singles rubbers, New Zealand were leading in the five-rubber tie 2-0, and now the tally stands 2-1 with two reverse singles remaining.
Godamanna put behind the weariness of his epic five-set defeat against Rubin Statham (6/4, 3/6, 6/4, 3/6, 6/4) which lasted for four hours and 45 minutes on the previous day, to fashion Sri Lanka’s win yesterday. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s number two Rajapakse was unfazed by the presence of his 6/2, 3/6, 6/1, 6/2 singles conqueror Dan King-Turner as he ably supported Godamanna to register a memorable Davis Cup win for Sri Lanka.
Given his world ranking of 254, the Kiwi number one King-Turner was expected to lead New Zealand to an easy win yesterday along with 2010 Heineken Open Doubles champion Marcus Daniell, who was making his Davis Cup debut in the doubles. But the pair except in the first set (6/7 tie-break 5) did not look like posing a stiff challenge to the Lankan pair who were clearly growing in confidence as the match progressed. The match lasted for two hours and 25 minutes.
Today (Sunday) Godamanna will meet King-Turner and Rajapakse will take on Rubin Statham in reverse singles, with the matches starting at 10am.