THE country seeks redemption as it hosts Thailand in a grudge match in the semifinals of the Davis Cup Asia Oceania Group II Tie on April 7 and 8.
This year’s Davis Cup team eyes sweet revenge at home, exactly a year since PJ Tierro, Jeson Patrombon and AJ Lim absorbed a 0-5 beating from the Thais at the National Tennis Development Center in Nonthaburi.
The squad limped badly after its mainstays Treat Huey, Francis Casey Alcantara and Ruben Gonzales succumbed to injuries last season.
The pullout of the three topnotch players came in time of the middle of the leadership turmoil in the Philippine Tennis Association.
Just last weekend, the group of Lim, Alcantara, Patrombon and newcomers John Bryan Otico and Jurence Mendoza made waves in Jakarta as they dismantled Indonesia, 4-1, to advance to the semifinals.
Lim sealed the tie via a 6-3, 6-4 thrashing of veteran David Susanto. Before that, Lim booked a 6-3, 6-2 mastery of Althaf Dhaifullah, while Alcantara teamed up with Mendoza to defeat the tandem of Susanto and Justin Barki, 7-6 (5), 6-3.
Only Patrombon dropped his match, 2-6, 5-7, to Susanto, while Otico won his nonbearing duel with Anthony Susanto, 6-3, 6-3, in the closing singles.
Lebanon hosts Hong Kong in the other semifinal. The winner in the crossover finals will earn a spot in Group I of the Davis Cup.