Sinclair stands out in Davis Cup

The CNMI’s Colin Sinclair, seen here returning a shot during a match in the 2019 Pacific Games in Samoa, led Pacific Oceania to the Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Group III promotion. (Contributed Photo)

The CNMI’s Colin Sinclair suited for the Pacific Oceania Team and helped the squad get its promotion to the Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Zone Group III.

Sinclair, who won three gold medals and a silver in the 2019 Pacific Games in Samoa, the Cook Islands’ Brett Baudinet and Papua New Guinea’s Matthew Stubbings were in Pool A of the Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Zone Group IV Tournament that started last Wednesday in Amman, Jordan. The Pacific Oceania players swept their pool assignments, beating Bangladesh, 3-0, and Saudi Arabia, 2-1.

The pair of victories moved Sinclair and company to the semifinals where they topped the United Arab Emirates, 2-0, to seal a promotional spot to Group III (for the 2020 tournament) and arranged a finals duel against Jordan. The two promotional berths are given to the Top 2 finishers in the 14-team tournament, which also included Guam (ranked No. 11 after the playoffs).

Sinclair played in singles 2 for Pacific Oceania in their game against Bangladesh and crushed Dipu Lal, 6-0, 6-0, to secure the outright win for their squad. Earlier in singles 1, Stubbings dominated Mohammed Hossain, 6-0, 6-2. Sinclair and Baudinet then completed the Pacific Oceania sweep with a 6-0, 6-0, triumph in the doubles against the Bangladesh pair.

Versus Saudi Arabia, Sinclair and Baudinet’s 6-3, 7-6 (9-7) win over Ammar and Saud Alhaqbani saved Pacific Oceania. Sinclair also prevailed in his singles match against Saud, 6-1, 6-1 to make up for the loss that Stubbings absorbed at the hands of Ammar, 1-6, 2-6.

For their third straight victory that also sealed Pacific Oceania’s spot to Group III, Sinclair delivered, too, as he survived UAE’s Omar Alawadhi, 7-5, 3-6, 6-2. In the other singles match, Stubbings regained his form and topped Fahad Janahi, 6-2, 6-1.

Sinclair and his two teammates were scheduled to meet Jordan for the top spot and bragging rights in the group last Saturday, but results of the finale were unavailable at press time. Jordan got the promotion, too and joined Pacific Oceania to Group III after beating Turkmenistan, Guam, and Mongolia in Pool C and downing Oman in the playoffs.

Iraq, Bahrain, Cambodia, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan were the other nations that competed in the tournament and they will remain in Group IV for next season.