By Kristel Satumbaga
Matches Friday
(PCA claycourt, Paco)
11 a.m. – AJ Lim vs Stefanos Tsitsipas
Followed by
Petros Tsitsipas vs Jeson Patrombon
Philippines’ AJ Lim, left, and World No. 6 Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece face off in the first singles match of the Davis Cup World Group II playoff tie at the Philippine Columbian Association claycourt in Paco, Manila. (MB Photo / Ali Vicoy)
The invading Greeks are on the shores. Up to Team Philippines to make a stand the way Troy did in mythological times.
Tennis fans are in for world-class treat today when world No. 6 Stefanos Tsitsipas clashes with AJ Lim in the first singles match of the Philippines versus Greece Davis Cup World Group II playoff tie.
Team Philippines and Team Greece pose during the press conference of the Davis Cup World Group II playoff tie at the Philippine Columbian Association, March 5, 2020. (MB Photo / Ali Vicoy)
Match is at 11 a.m. at the Philippine Columbian Association claycourt in Paco, Manila with both players seeking to draw first blood in the two-day, best-of-five affair.
This is not the first time the two netters are facing each other, having tangled in a doubles match during a junior tournament years ago.
Lim and his partner won that matchup.
It’s a different story now as far as Lim, 20, is concerned.
“It was way, way back. It’s different now because he’s been training a lot and he’s No. 6 in the world… Of course that counts in our history, but it doesn’t really matter now,” said Lim, who has compiled three singles victories out of seven since joining the squad in 2017.
“For me, it’s just going to be a good experience playing against him.”
World No. 6 Stephanos Tsitsipas of Greece during the press conference of Davis Cup at the Philippine Columbian Association in Paco, Manila, March 5, 2020. (MB Photo / Ali Vicoy)
Despite his rankings and experience, the 21-year-old Tsitsipas is not taking the match any lightly.
“The vibe is totally different because we’re not playing on home soil, so we’ll have to take it match by match and concentrate on that,” said Tsitsipas, who is seeing action for the Greek squad for the second time since debuting last September.
Apart from experience and rankings, Tsitsipas literally towered over Lim. The Greek tennis hero is 6-foot-4 while Lim is at 5-foot-7.
Meanwhile, Tsitsipas’ younger brother Petros faces Jeson Patrombon in the second singles.
“It’s something new for me, playing as a second player for the team and I can’t wait to get it started. I’ll do my best out there,” said Petros, 19, who mostly played doubles matches with the Greek squad since 2017.
Patrombon shares the same sentiment, saying he’ll do his best as this will be the first time that he will be playing against him.
The doubles match scheduled on Saturday pit veterans Francis Casey Alcantara and Ruben Gonzales against Petros and Markos Kalovelonis, followed by the reverse singles between Stefanos and Patrombon, and Petros against Lim.
The tie matchup is the first time in 29 years that the Filipino Cuppers will be up against a non-Asian squad since the PH team, then bannered by Felix Barrientos, faced Sweden in the 1991 World Group Qualifiers.
Under this new format, 12 home-and-away ties in World Group II playoffs will be played at the same time in the World Qualifiers and World Group I playoffs.
The 12 winning nations from the World Group II playoffs will compete in the World Group II ties in September along with the losing nations from World Group I.
Losing nations in World Group II, meanwhile, will compete in the Regional Group III in June/July or September.
READ MORE: For the Tsitsipas family, Davis Cup tennis is in their blood, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Greek team looking forward to playing in Davis Cup
Apart from experience and rankings, Tsitsipas literally towered over Lim. The Greek tennis hero is 6-foot-4 while Lim is at 5-foot-7.
Meanwhile, Tsitsipas’ younger brother Petros faces Jeson Patrombon in the second singles.
Petros Tsitsipas of Greece, brother of World No. 6 Stefanos, during the press conference of Davis Cup at the Philippine Columbian Association in Paco, Manila, March 5, 2020. (MB Photo / Ali Vicoy)
“It’s something new for me, playing as a second player for the team and I can’t wait to get it started. I’ll do my best out there,” said Petros, 19, who mostly played doubles matches with the Greek squad since 2017.
Patrombon shares the same sentiment, saying he’ll do his best as this will be the first time that he will be playing against him.
The double match scheduled on Saturday pit veterans Francis Casey Alcantara and Ruben Gonzales against Petros and Markos Kalovelonis, followed by the reverse singles between Stefanos and Patrombon, and Petros against Lim.
READ MORE: PH team optimistic despite odds against Stefanos Tsitsipas-led Greek squad
The tie matchup is the first time in 29 years that the Filipino Cuppers will be up against a non-Asian squad since the PH team, then bannered by Felix Barrientos, faced Sweden in the 1991 World Group Qualifiers.
Under this new format, 12 home-and-away ties in World Group II playoffs will be played at the same time in the World Qualifiers and World Group I playoffs.
The 12 winning nations from the World Group II playoffs will compete in the World Group II ties in September along with the losing nations from World Group I.
Losing nations in World Group II, meanwhile, will compete in the Regional Group III in June/July or September.
Source: Manila Bulletin
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