Ruben Gonzales cut down a hard-fighting David Agung Susanto of Indonesia with a clinical, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 beating Sunday as Cebuana Lhuillier-Philippines Davis Cup team won the tie, 4-1, at Philippine Columbian Association indoor courts.
Gonzales, 31, was in full control of the match as he posted his 10th Davis Cup victory in 15 matches played, giving the Philippines 3-1 edge in the Asia/Oceania Group 2 tie.He scored his second win this weekend after beating Aditya Hari Sasongko (6-2, 6-2, 6-4) following the sorry loss of Alberto Lim Jr. to Susanto (3-6, 2-6, 6-2, 6-1, 1-1 (retired). Later in the day, Alberto Lim Jr., put the finishing touches after he drubbed Anthony Susanto, 7-5, 6-3, in the non-bearing fifth match to complete a 4-1 win for the Philippines.“It was good effort. I think it was high level I mean he (Susanto) was playing three matches and I did a good effort. Good match and great win for Philippines,” said Gonzales.
Lim Jr., was playing Sasongko in the dead rubber at press time in the tie sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission, Babolat and Cebuana Lhuillier.Team manager Jean Henri Lhuillier praised the team which is eyeing to go back to Group 1.“The players showed passion and a big heart. It’s going to be a lot of hardwork but with the efforts they showed we’ll get eventually there,” said Lhuillier.
Now the Philippines is waiting for the winner between Thailand and Kuwait for its semifinal opponent. The country’s premier doubles players Treat Huey and Francis Casey Alcantara gave the Philippines a thorough 6-2, 6-4, 6-4 victory over Susanto and Sunu-Wahyu Trijati for a 2-1 lead Saturday.The Philippines non-playing captain Karl Santamaria said the country now has “the pieces to get back into the big boys club.”
Susanto, 25, put up a gallant stand by breaking Gonzales for the first time, tying the third set at 2-2 and then consolidating it for a 3-2 lead.But Gonzales held at love and then broke the Indonesian with a brilliant passing shot for 4-3. The Filipino next held serve via sliding drop shot that thrilled the gallery before allowing Susanto to hold.
Gonzales then cranked it up in the 10th game, served and volleying to force the Indonesian to hit long for the winning point.
Source: sports.abs-cbn.com