NMI blanks Maldives in Davis Cup debut; also sweeps Bhutan

The CNMI won its debut in Group 5 of the Davis Cup last Wednesday by beating Maldives, 3-0, at the Bahrain Tennis Federation tennis courts in Isa Town, Bahrain.

In their match against Bhutan yesterday, the CNMI won the first two singles matches with No. 2 Robbie Schorr, who led the NMI’s men’s gold medal sweep in last June’s Micronesia Games, topping Bhutan’s No. 1 Tashi Dorji, 6-2, 6-1.

No. 1 Colin Sinclair, taking time out from the pro tour to represent the NMI, then clinched the tie by downing Bhutan’s No. 2 Tenzin Singye Dorji, 6-2, 6-0.

Colin Ramsey and Tomas Abel then completed the sweep by beating Pema Norbu and Sonam Tobgye, 6-4, 7-6 (7-0).

Against Maldives in their Davis Cup debut Wednesday, Schorr defeated Maldives’ No. 1 Muhammad Nooh Nazih, 6-1 6-0, to open up the tie.

Sinclair then bucked a bad back to beat Maldives’ No. 2 Abdulla Faaih Fazeel, 6-2, 6-1, to clinch the tie.

CNMI Davis Cup captain Jeff Race then fielded the doubles team of Colin Ramsey and Tomas Abel for mop-up duty and the pair delivered by getting the better of Mohamed Kaisaan Izzath Rasheed and Aiham Shiyam, 6-1, 7-5. Today Team NMI will take on Bhutan in pool play.

Race didn’t downplay the significance of Wednesday’s win against Maldives in the history of CNMI tennis.

“It was a historic day in NMI tennis history as for the first time we were able to compete in Davis Cup with our own national team. What’s even better is, we won,” he said.

Sinclair said he’s glad they were able to hand Race his first ever win in Davis Cup. The CNMI Sports Hall of Famer also used to skipper the Pacific Oceania Davis Cup team.

“I’m very happy to get coach Jeff his first win as Davis Cup coach of the NMI. He’s done amazing things for tennis on island and I’m super honored to get to play for him.”

On his bothersome back injury, the former Pacific Oceania Davis Cup No. 1 said it feels better.

“My back is a work in progress. But it has felt better each day I’ve been here so I hope it continues this trend.”

Schorr, meanwhile, applauded the team’s effort in Day 1 of the Davis Cup competition.

“I will just say that it was a great performance by everyone on the team. Everyone did their part, played well, and we got our first win for the NMI in the Davis Cup. The next two ties in our group will be tougher but our team is going in with a lot of confidence and I really like our chances to do well and get results we want.”

Ramsey, for his part, said it’s always nice to win your first match in any tournament and it helped that Schorr and Sinclair already clinched the tie when it was their time to play doubles.

“It’s so much fun watching Robbie and Colin Sinclair go to work on the tennis courts. Tomas and I play good doubles together and we finished the job that the other two started. They took all the pressure off by winning the first two singles matches so we were able to relax into our doubles and let loose!”

Abel essentially agreed with Ramsey’s comment.

“It was a great day for CNMI tennis, Colin and Robbie did an amazing job in singles and freed Collin 2 and I for a great doubles match. Felt good playing and just happy we won.”

Karen Buettner is also with the team in Bahrain as team manager.