Ace Harshana keeps Sri Lanka hopes alive
Prior to his match Godamanne received an ITF Commitment Award - Pix by Amila Gamage
Harshana Godamanna kept Sri Lanka’s hopes alive against Indonesia on day one of the Davis Cup Group II relegation tie with a comfortable 2-0 win in the second singles encounter played at the SLTA tennis courts in Greenpath, Colombo yesterday.
Harshana overcame Indonesian opponent David Agung Susanto with ease after Sharmal Dissanayake had to surrender his match to Christopher Rungkat. After the pair had a set each, Dissanayake was forced to retire halfway during the third set due to a cramp.
Harshana’s win helped
Sri Lanka to make it one each in the five match tie. The relegation tie is going to be crucial for both teams as the losing team will be relegated to the lower division.
Sri Lanka has beaten Indonesia in the previous two times they have met each other and hopefully they will be looking forward to break the hoodoo when the tournament continues today.
Meanwhile Godamanna, who is playing his 51st Davis Cup tie was recognised for his long and invaluable service to the country by the International Tennis Federation before action got underway. He received an ITF Commitment Award.
Harshana Godamanne was in perfect shape yesterday
The left-hander then went on the clay courts and proved how much Sri Lanka will miss him in the future, especially in singles, as he dominated Susanto.
“I’m really proud to get this award,” Godamanna said. “It wasn’t something I planned for or aimed at but it is pretty cool to be in the company of a couple of other Sri Lankans who have given their commitment to the Davis Cup which is a special event.”
The other local recipients of this award are the late Bernard Pinto and Arjun Fernando.
Godamanna first represented
Sri Lanka at the Davis Cup in 2002 and has now played a record 51 ties including 94 matches – 69 singles and 25 doubles – with a 43-15 win-loss record in singles and a 26-10 doubles record.
Godamanna, who was once ranked as high as 811 in the ATP world rankings (in 2008), could figure in the crucial doubles which will be played first on Sunday before the two reverse singles are played.
In the doubles encounter the Sri Lankan pair Yasitha de Silva and Alex Fairbanks will meet the Indonesian pair of Justin Barki and Athony Susanto.
This will be followed by the two singles encounters between Harshana Godamanna and Christopher Rungkat while Sharmal Dissanayake will lock horns against David Agung Susanto.
Results
- Christopher Rungkat beat Sharmal Dissanayake 2-1 (4/6, 6/4, 3/0).
- Harshana Godamanna beat David Agung Susanto 2-0 (6/3, 6/1).