OTF confident Race would pick best players for Davis Cup

Oceania Tennis Federation is pretty confident that newly retained Pacific Oceania Davis Cup team captain Jeff Race would chose the best possible players for the islanders’ tie against Hong Kong in February.

OTF executive officer Patrick O’Rourke said that the many-time CNMI National Tennis Team coach has a deep pool of talented tennis players around the region at his disposal.

“I am sure Jeff will pick on form early next year and will consider all players who make themselves available and not just those who played in 2005,” he said.

For the record, five players saw action for the islanders last year. Michael Leong of Solomon Islands, Juan Langton of Western Samoa, Brett Baudinet of Cook Islands, and Cyril Jacobe of Vanuatu suited up against Lebanon, while West Nott of Marshall Islands teamed up with Leong, Langton, and Baudinet against eventual Group II champion South Korea.

Asked about Pacific Oceania’s chances against Hong Kong, O’Rourke went straight to the point and said that the former Crown Colony is favored against the islanders.

“Any team is tough away from home. Hong Kong has a better historical record than Pacific Oceania, having done well in Group II in past years except for a blip in 2004 when they were relegated [to Group III]. Hence they are seeded to beat Pacific Oceania. It will be tough but I am sure the Pacific Oceania team will do its very best,” said O’Rourke.

On the apparent snub Pacific Oceania got by not being given a home tie in the first round, O’Rourke explained that the islanders didn’t get the short end of the stick, but rather chose the wrong side of the coin.

“When nations have not played before, Davis Cup rules state that the host nation is decided by the toss of a coin. Hong Kong won the toss just as Pacific Oceania did when coming up from Group III last year for the tie against Lebanon,” he said.

Pacific Oceania’s first round tie against Hong Kong in Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Group II competition would be held from Feb. 10 to Feb. 12.

Last March, Pacific Oceania went up against seeded Lebanon in Lautoka, Fiji in its first Davis Cup tie in home soil in years.

Serving as full-time team captain for the first time, Race guided Pacific Oceania to an upset of seeded Lebanon.

With the Middle East powerhouse underestimating the team, the islanders raced to a 2-0 lead by sweeping the opening singles. Although, Lebanon took the doubles, Leong finished the job by winning the first of two reverse singles to allow Pacific Oceania to advance to the semis of Group II.

Race and company, however, ran smack into a runaway freight train when it opposed top seeded South Korea in Seoul last July. With ATP-ranked players leading the East Asian nation’s charge, Pacific Oceania was swept 5-0.