Wednesday 30 / October / 2024
Muscat: For the first time Oman were tested by their opponents but still managed to defeat Myanmar 3-0 for their fourth consecutive victory in the the 2018 Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Group IV competition at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex on Thursday.
The Sultanate’s squad, who had relatively easy outings in the first three ties, had to dig deep in all three rubbers of their Pool A tie against Myanmar.
After playing six matches in three days, including three singles and three doubles, Mohammd Al Nabhani for the first time conceded a set but drew on his experience to overcome Aung Kyaw Naing in a three-set battle 5-7, 6-2, 6-1 in the first singles.
In the second singles too, Abdullah Al Barwani was stretched by Aung Myo Thant before the young Omani talent clinched the rubber 6-2, 4-6, 6-3.
In the doubles, captain Siddiq Al Hashmi played Muneer Al Rawahi and Younis Al Rawahi giving rest to Mohammed Al Nabhani. The Rawahis played well to defeat Zaw San Oo and Tin Myo Wai 6-4, 4-6, 6-3.
With four wins in four outings, Oman are now on top of Pool A followed by UAE, who defeated Iraq 3-0 on Thursday.
UAE also won all four ties they played so far but are in second place as they have lost one rubber while Oman won all the 12 rubbers they have played in four ties.
Oman will face a big challenge on Friday when they take on UAE. The winners of that tie will top the Pool A.
The Group IV competition concludes on Saturday when the winners of Pool A will play-off against the runners-up in Pool B and the winners of Pool B will play-off against the runners-up in Pool A to determine which two nations will be promoted to Asia/Oceania Zone Group III in 2019.
Oman’s non-playing captain Siddique Al Hashmi said: “We had a tough day. Our players had to fight for their victories as Myanmar players did well in all three matches.”
“We had a long and tough day today. But I think it will be good for us as we have to play more tougher opponents in UAE tomorrow.”
Speaking about the tie against UAE, he said: “Tomorrow’s tie will be important for both of us. I am sure UAE will also be looking to top the group. Obviously we also want to top group so that we can avoid playing Singapore who are expected to top the other group.”
Against Iraq, UAE had an easy time in the singles with Abdulrahman Al Janahi defeating Barakat Zainy 6-3, 6-3 and Fahd Al Janahi defeating Adel Mustafa Al Saedi 6-2, 6-4.
In the doubles, Abdulrahman Al Janahi and Fares Al Janahi had to fight hard to defeat Adel Mustafa Al Saedi and Barakat Zainy 6-7 (4), 6-1, 6-3.
In Pool B, Singapore remained the lone undefeated team after defeating Turkmenistan 3-0.
In the first singles, Roy Hobbs defeated Atlymyrat Gurbanov 6-2, 6-2 and then in the second singles, Shaheed Alam defeated Yuriy Roguskiy 6-0, 6-1.
In the doubles, Yuan-Xiong Hui and Hao Yuan Ng defeated Atlymyrat Gurbanov and Yuriy Roguskiy 7-6 (5), 7-5 to make it 3-0.
In other Pool B ties, Bahrain defeated Guam 2-1 and Mongolia defeated Tajikistan 3-0.
Pool A results
Bangladesh bt Kyrgyzstan 2-1.
Sree-Amol Roy bt Georgy Kotlyarevsky 6-0, 6-1.
Kirill Kistanov bt Dipu Lal 6-4, 6-4.
Ranjan Ram/Sree-Amol Roy bt Kirill Kistanov/Georgy Kotlyarevsky 7-5, 6-0.
Oman def Myanmar 3-0.
Mohammed Al Nabhani bt Aung Kyaw Naing 5-7, 6-2, 6-1.
Abdullah Al Barwani bt Aung Myo Thant 6-2, 4-6, 6-3.
Muneer Al Rawahi/Younis Al Rawahi bt Zaw San Oo/Tin Myo Wai 6-4, 4-6, 6-3.
UAE bt Iraq 3-0.
Abdulrahman Al Janahi bt Barakat Zainy 6-3, 6-3.
Fahd Al Janahi bt Adel Mustafa Al Saedi 6-2, 6-4.
Abdulrahman Al Janahi/Fares Al Janahi bt Adel Mustafa Al Saedi/ Barakat Zainy 6-7 (4), 6-1, 6-3.
Pool B results
Bahrain bt Guam 2-1.
Hasan Abdulnabi bt Christopher Cajigan 7-5, 6-4.
Ali Dawan bt Daniel Llarenas 6-2, 7-6 (4).
Ali Dawan/Yusuf Qaed lost to Jean Pierre Huynh/Daniel Llarenas 3-6, 5-7.
Mongolia bt Tajikistan 3-0.
Tamir Ankhbayar bt Shakhrom Umarov 6-0, 6-0.
Temuugei Enkhsaikhan bt Firuz Mukhidinov 6-1, 6-0.
Tamir Ankhbayar/Temuugei Enkhsaikhan bt Firdavs Odinaev/Shakhrom Umarov 6-0, 6-0.
Singapore bt Turkmenistan 3-0.
Roy Hobbs bt Atlymyrat Gurbanov 6-2, 6-2.
Shaheed Alam bt Yuriy Roguskiy 6-0, 6-1.
Yuan-Xiong Hui/Hao Yuan Ng bt Atlymyrat Gurbanov/Yuriy Roguskiy 7-6 (5), 7-5.
Friday’s schedule
Pool A
Iraq vs Kyrgyzstan.
Oman vs UAE.
Bangladesh vs Myanmar.
Pool B
Singapore vs Bahrain.
Tajikistan vs Guam.
Turkmenistan vs Mongolia.
