RP Davis Cuppers gain 2-0 lead

Joseph Victorino and Johnny Arcilla watched their respective rivals crumble in extreme heat at the PCA indoor courts yesterday, sweeping the opening singles for a decisive Philippine 2-0 lead over Kazakhstan in their Davis Cup relegation tie.

Victorino, playing only his third game as a Davis Cupper, beat Anton Tsymbalov, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4, extracting first blood for the Filipino netters in the best-of-five tie.

Arcilla made it a two-game-to-nil lead later as the veteran Davis Cupper made a swashbuckling comeback from a two-set deficit for a 3-6, 4-6, 6-2, 7-5, 6-2 victory over Kazakh No. 1 player Alexey Kedriouk.

The Philippines and Kazakhstan, both seeking to avoid relegation to Group III in the Asia Oceania Zone, play the doubles match at 1 p.m. today. Arcilla and Michael Mora III were named to play the doubles against Tsymbalov and Kedriouk.

Victorino, a 19-year-old Airman, repulsed Tsymbalov for his first victory as a national player.

The fact that he did it before a cheering hometown crowd and provided the momentum to RP netters made the Quezon City native extra happy.

"Ang sarap, nakakataba ng puso at nakakapagpataas ng kumpiyansa," said Victorino, whose first two matches in Davis Cup competition both ended on a losing note.

"Joseph followed the game plan which was to have his rival working hard for his points. Malakas siya (the Kazakh) pero tatagal ba iyon sa init dito?," said RP team coach Johnny Jose of Victorino’s conquest of the Kazakh in sweltering heat in the Plaza Dilao venue.

Kedriouk was lucky he set out for the match against Arcilla at sunset. With the weather much better, the Kazakh jumped the gun on the Filipino, taking the first two sets only to wilt just the same as the game wore on.

Watching the Kedriouk-Arcilla match in the gallery, Victorino expressed confidence he can hold Kedriouk’s game. He said: "Kailangan lang siguro laging mahaba ang laro ko sa kanya. Mukhang hindi pwedeng labanan sa maigsi."

He did just against Tsymbalov, sending the Kazakh No. 2 all over the court and taking the steam and power off his game in the process.

Tsymbalov suffered so much in extreme heat that he threw up numerous times in the second set.

At matchpoint, Tsymbalov eventually yielded the match as he tripped on the court while about to chase a crosscourt by Victorino.

While Tsymbalov took the exit with his head bowed, Victorino took off his shirt, approached personal coach Manny Teczon at the gallery and whooped it up, celebrating the biggest win so far in his tennis career.

Incidentally, Victorino, a product of the Manila Southwoods tennis program, suffered a close defeat at the hands of Tsymbalov in their match in cold condition in Kazakhstan last year. Victorino’s second Davis Cup contest was a 0-6, 1-6, 0-6 blowout versus a Chinese foe in China earlier this year.

Victorino completely outclassed Tsymbalov in their rematch.

The Filipino bet broke the Kazakh in the first game, raced to a 5-2 lead and never trailed in all three sets.