Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: New Zealand took an unassailable lead over Pakistan Saturday to retain their berth in the Davis Cup Asia-Oceania Group I when Michael Venus and Marcus Daniell won their doubles in straight sets at Christchurch, New Zealand. Venus and Daniell beat Aqeel Khan and Mohammad Abid Ali Khan Akbar 6-0, 6-1, 6-2 to give New Zealand a 3-0 lead after Jose Statham and Finn Tearney won the opening singles on Friday, also in straight sets. The New Zealand doubles pair were too classy, with Venus holding the opening serve in the match to love and the three sets were all over in 74 minutes. Pakistan produced some resistance in the second and third sets but never seriously threatened the New Zealanders who are both regulars on the ATP circuit.

It was crucial for the visitors to win the rubber in order to stay in the tie. However, the Kiwis dominated the match and took the first set 6-0. The Pakistani duo managed to hold the second set at 1-1, but Venus and Daniell were unstoppable, carrying on the lead 6-2 and sealing the win in the third set 6-2 to stay in Group I. Akbar had lost his opening singles match to Statham 6-0, 6-1, 6-4, while Samir Iftikhar was defeated by Tearney 6-2, 6-0, 6-0 with the hosts taking the 2-0 lead on day one. The result means New Zealand remain in the Asia-Oceania Group I next year while Pakistan are relegated to Group II next year. With New Zealand having wrapped up the tie in
three games, the reverse singles on Sunday will be the best of three sets.

Coming into this tie, the team were already short on one player after Pakistan’s top player Aisamul Haq Qureshi excused himself from playing the tie due to the bad experience with New Zealand in 2013, when Pakistan were hosting the tie in Myanmar as the neutral venue. Pakistan were leading that tie 1-0 when the Kiwis complained of unplayable conditions on the court and the umpire declared the tie in New Zealand’s favour . Pakistan were promoted to Group I last year after they won the Group II final against Chinese Taipei 3-2. Pakistan’s attempts to host Davis Cup ties at home have been futile so far, as the International Tennis Federation (ITF) does not consider the country to be a safe venue. Consequently, Pakistan are forced to either hold their home ties at a neutral venue, or cave in by going to the opponent’s turf, like they did this time. Losing home advantage also means foregoing the choice of surface; Pakistani players prefer playing on grass, but played this tie on indoor hard court as per the hosts’ preference.