Tennis: Sri Lanka beat Lebanon in Davis Cup playoff

Sri Lanka recorded a historic win against Lebanon 3-2 in the Davis Cup Group two Asia Oceania Zone Relegation play off when the hosts emerged victorious in the decisive Reverse Singles at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association courts on Sunday (19).   By the Sunday morning the Davis Cup tie became vital for both countries after Lebanon’s Hady Habib beat Sri Lanka No2. Shermal Dissanayake.   Habib won the first two sets but Dissanayake bounced back to lock two sets each after winning the third and fourth sets.   However Habib managed to win the cruicial final set and claim the match 7/5, 6/4, 4/6, 4/6 and 6/3.   Sri Lanka’s fortune solely relied on experienced Harshana Godamanne who beat Lebanon’s Giovanni Samaha in straight sets to secure his country a 3-2 win.   Godamanne won the match by 6/3, 6/2 and 6/3.   On Saturday (18) the Men’s Doubles was won by Lebanese Hady Habib and Giovanni Samaha who beat Sri Lankan duo Harshana Godamanna and Dineshkanthan Thangarajah who recorded 3-2 win with the final scores reading 7/6, 2/6, 6/3, 3/6 and 6/3.   On Friday (17) Sri Lanka won the two Singles matches.   Sri Lanka will stay in Group II next year and Lebanon will be relegated to Asia-Oceania Zone Group III.