After losing the crucial doubles following the opening day split of the singles matches, the Philippine Davis Cup team needed to fight back to level the score at 2-2 before Treat Huey takes on Ti Chen in the second reverse singles that would decide the outcome of the Asia Oceania Zone Group 1 playoff at the Yang Ming Tennis Center in Kaohsiung, Chinese-Taipei Sunday.
The Chinese-Taipei pair of Tsung-Hua Yang and Chu-Huan Yi overcame the gutsy Filipino duo of Mamiit and Huey in four grueling sets that lasted 3 hours and 30 minutes before the hometown tandem prevailed 6-3, 7-5, 6-7 (5), 7-6 (6), to give them a 2-1 lead going into the final day’s reverse singles.
Chinese-Taipei had to play at the top of their game to turn back the challenge of Mamiit and Huey with Philippine delegation head and former junior standout Randy Villanueva commending the Filipinos saying “The boys gave their best, but they just didn’t get the chances.”
With the loss of the doubles the Cebuana Lhuillier RP Davis Cup team faced a must win situation in Sunday’s first reverse singles which sent Philippine playing captain Mamiit against Yang who overcame Huey on Friday after being stretched to the limit.
Mamiit needed to win to give Huey a chance to clinch the tie against Ti Chen who retired in his singles encounter against Mamiit due to cramps and if Huey who is in great physical shape can pull Ti Chen around the court and wear him down the Philippines could pull it off with a late rally.
Villanueva was confident saying “This will be a crucial singles for Mamiit. I think Treat Huey can handle the fifth game if Mamiit wins his reverse singles.”
After Mamiit won the first set 6-3, Yang came back to take the next two 6-3/6-2 but Mamiit fought back in customary fashion to win the fourth set 6-3 and set-up what is certain to be an epic battle in the fifth and final set which was being played at press time
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