Tennis: Thailand beat Sri Lanka in Davis Cup tie

Thailand beat Sri Lanka 3-2 in the first round of the Davis Cup Asia-Oceania Zone Group II ties which ended after two days of excitement at the Sri Lanka Tennis Courts in Greenpath on Sunday (4).

Both teams were tied 2-2 after and the win was dependant on the best performer of the decisive game, the fourth Singles. 

Eventually Thai Jirat Navasirisomboon beat local player Yasitha de Silva in straight sets, 7-5, 6-2 to give his country the much needed victory. 

On Saturday (3) Sri Lanka was a Singles battle through Shamal Dissanayake, who later on partnered with Yasith de Silva to beat the Thailand duo Sanchai Ratiwatana and Palaphoom Kovapitukted in the Doubles battle on Sunday (4).

Thailand won the 5-match ties with three wins under their belt in Singles while Sri Lanka won a Singles and the Double, mainly on the performance and form of Shamal Dissanayake. 

Sri Lanka will meet Indonesia on April 7 and 8 in Colombo, which will be a relegation playoff in the Asia Oceania Group II. 

Results

1st Singles: Sharmal Dissanayake (Sri Lanka) beat Jirat Navasirisomboon (Thailand) 2-0 (6/4, 7/5)

2nd Singles: Wishaya Trongcharoenchaikul (Thailand) beat Yasitha de Silva (Sri Lanka) 2-0 (6/3, 6/3)

Doubles: Sharmal Dissanayake/Yasitha de Silva (Sri Lanka) beat Sanchai Ratiwatana/Palaphoom Kovapitukted 2-0 (6-3, 6-4)

4th Singles: Wishaya Trongcharoenchaikul (Thailand) beat Alex Fairbanks (Sri Lanka) 2-0 (7-5, 6-0)

5th Singles: Jirat Navasirisomboon (Thailand) beat Yasitha de Silva 2-0 (7-5, 6-2)