Si Yew Ming delivers all 3 points to help Malaysia stay in DC Group II Asia/Oceania Zone

Malaysia no.1 Si Yew Ming helped Malaysia sealed their campaign with a 3-1 win over Kuwait in the Davis Cup BNP Paribas Group II Asia/Oceania Zone 2009 relegation play-off at the National Tennis Centre in Kuala Lumpur today.

Yew Ming had minimal problems defeating Kuwaiti player Hassan Al Moussa 6-2, 6-1, 6-1 in under two hours in the 4th rubber.

The second singles match of the day was called off after the Kuwaiti team decided not to field their player who was injured.

The win ensures Malaysia stays in Group II of the tournament.

An elated Yew Ming credited the team for his excellent performance throughout the three day tournament.

“It was a team effort. We all played our parts well,” said Yew Ming.

“It’s a whole new experience for me in the Davis Cup and everything is going well. We’re getting better after every tournament and it’s a good sign.”

Yew Ming stressed he will continue training hard to improve his playing ability.

Thanks to Rahida for the press release.

(Image by LTAM)

Israel reaches first Davis Cup semifinal

Israel has reached its first Davis Cup semifinal by taking an unbelievable 3-0 lead over Russia.

Australian Open doubles champions Andy Ram and Jonathan Erlich defeated Marat Safin and Igor Kunitsyn 6-3, 6-4, 6-7, 4-6, 6-4 to decide the best-of-five series.

“This is something I will cherish for all of my life,” said Erlich, who recently came back from a 10-month injury layoff.

A day earlier, Israel had taken a surprising 2-0 lead after Harvel Levy beat Igor Andreev and Dudi Sela rallied to defeat Mikhail Youzhny in the singles matches.

Russia has won the Davis Cup twice—in 2002 and 2007—and made it to the semifinals in each of the past five years.

Israel had reached the quarterfinals once before, losing to India in New Delhi in 1987.

Now Israel will take on either Germany at home or Spain away in September.

(Via AP; Images by Jack Guez/AFP/Getty Images)

2009 Davis Cup Quarterfinals: More pictures...

Here are more pictures from the various press conferences took place prior to the quarterfinal clashes over the next three days.

Croatia 1 - USA 0

Check that out...

Why do I keep thinking there are similarities between JMDP and Mr Bean?

The single ones always laugh louder and harder.

More team pictures here:

Team Argentina

Team Czech Republic

Team Israel

(Images via Getty Images)

2009 Davis Cup Group II Asia/Oceania: Malaysia vs Kuwait in relegation play-off

The national tennis players in my country are going to have a tough job this weekend.

Team Malaysia will have to be at their best to remain in Group II, Asia/Oceania Zone when they meet Team Kuwait in a relegation play-off for the next 3 days.

Since the country's no. 2 Adam Jaya has injured himself during the recent Malaysia Futures tournament, 40-year old V. Selvam is chosen to join his younger team mates in the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas tie.

If you are free and have nothing better to do from Friday to Sunday, please head to the National Tennis Centre, Kuala Lumpur. Matches start from 4 p.m. except on Saturday. Admission is free.

Check out the OOP below:

1st day, 10 July 2009 Friday, 4pm
First Singles Match
Si Yew Meng, MAS VS Ahmad Rabeeca Muhammad, KUW

Second Singles Match
Razlan Rawi, MAS VS Mohammed Ghareeb, KUW

2nd Day, 11 July 2009 Saturday, 5pm
Doubles Match
V.Selvam & Si Yew Meng, MAS VS Mohammed Ghareeb & Ahmad Rabeeca Muhammad, KUW

3rd Day, 12 July 2009 Sunday, 4pm
First Singles Match
Si Yew Meng, MAS VS Mohammed Ghareeb, KUW

Second Singles Match
Razlan Rawi, MAS VS Ahmad Rabeeca Muhammad, KUW

Team Kuwait: Mohammad Ghareeb, Hassan Al Mousa, Musaad Al Jazzaf, Ahmad Rabeea Muhammad, Khaled Al Foudari (Captain)

Team Malaysia: Yew-Ming Si, Selvam Veerasingam, Razlan Rawi, Abd-Hazli Bin Zainuddin, Singaram Selvarajoo (Captain)

(Images by LTAM)

2009 Davis Cup Quarterfinals matchups

As usual I'm not too keen about Davis Cup.

That simply because I don't get to watch the events LIVE on TV in my country.

Besides with Rafael Nadal, David Ferrer and Andy Roddick out of this team competition, it just gives me more reasons not to watch it on live stream.

If you can't watch it on TV in your country, you can always count on atdhe.net.

Anyway here are the matchups and photos (can't find Team Argentina, Team Israel and Team Czech Republic photos yet).

The Davis Cup world group quarterfinal ties beginning Friday (all times GMT).

CROATIA v UNITED STATES
Venue: Sportska Dvorana, Porec, Croatia
Surface: Indoor clay
Times: Friday (1400), Saturday (1330), Sunday (1400)
Head-to-head: Croatia lead 2-0

CZECH REPUBLIC v ARGENTINA
Venue: Cez Arena, Ostrava
Surface: Indoor hard courts
Times: Friday (1300), Saturday (1200), Sunday (1100)
Head-to-head: Czech Republic lead 2-1

ISRAEL v RUSSIA
Venue: Sport Palaces, Tel Aviv
Surface: Indoor hard court
Times: Friday (1000), Saturday (1200), Sunday (1200)
Head-to-head: Russia lead 1-0

SPAIN v GERMANY
Venue: Plaza de Toros de Puerto Banus, Marbella
Surface: Outdoor clay
Times: Friday (1100), Saturday (1400), Sunday (1100)
Head-to-head: Germany lead 9-5

SPAIN team: Fernando Verdasco, Tommy Robredo, Juan Carlos Ferrero, Feliciano Lopez; Captain: Albert Costa

GERMANY team: Philipp Kohlschreiber, Nicolas Kiefer, Mischa Zverev, Andreas Beck; Captain: Patrik Kuhnen

RUSSIA team: Igor Kunitsyn, Marat Safin, Igor Andreev, Mikhail Youzhny; Captain: Shamil Tarpischev

UNITED STATES team: Mardy Fish, James Blake, Mike Bryan, Bob Bryan; Captain: Patrick McEnroe

The other members of the following teams are:

CROATIA: Marin Cilic, Ivo Karlovic, Roko Karanusic, Lovro Zovko; Captain: Goran Prpic

CZECH REPUBLIC: Tomas Berdych, Radek Stepanek, Ivo Minar, Lukas Dlouhy; Captain: Jaroslav Navratil

ARGENTINA: Juan Martin del Potro, Jose Acasuso, Leonardo Mayer, Juan Monaco; Captain: Tito Vasquez

ISRAEL: Dudi Sela, Harel Levy, Jonathan Erlich, Andy Ram; Captain: Eyal Ran

(Images via Getty Images)

Pakistan wants Davis Cup tie to be played in Malaysia or Singapore

The Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) has protested the decision of the ITF to move its Asia-Oceania Zone Group II tie against the Philippines for same reason why the event was moved from Lahore to Manila – security risk.

In an apparent dig to the latest kidnapping in Mindanao where three Red Cross workers were held hostage by Abu Sayyaf, PTF president Dilawar Abbas questioned the security situation in the country and suggested that the event be held at a neutral venue.

"We have written to the ITF that the security situation in the Philippines is also a concern to us," Abbas was quoted as saying.

"Killings take place routinely there and our players will be threatened to tour that country. They cannot give their best in such circumstances."

Abbas suggested that the game be played instead in Malaysia or Singapore.

The RP-Pakistan tie was initially set in Lahore but Philippine tennis officials requested to transfer it to Manila citing security risk after 12 gunmen ambushed a Sri Lankan cricket team last March 3 on their way to the Gaddafi Stadium.

(Via mb.com.ph)

Philippines wants Davis Cup tie transfer; Pakistan refuses

There's no fairplay in sports when politics come into play.

With the recent terrorist attack on a cricket team in Lahore, Pakistan, it is only wise to heed the appeal by Philippines’ tennis authorities to move the Davis Cup July regional playoff against Pakistan from Lahore to Manila.

Philippine Lawn Tennis Association vice president Randy Villanueva cited the March 3 attack on Sri Lanka’s cricketers in Lahore, which killed six police officers and a driver and injured several players, as evidence of the risk for sports team visiting Pakistan.

“We asked them to be moved here to the Philippines because of the safety of our players and because of recent events in Pakistan, especially the cricket team of Sri Lanka getting attacked,” Villanueva said.

Three of the five Filipino players, including Cecil Mamiit, are dual U.S.-Philippines citizens who Villanueva feared may be targeted because of their American passports.

Guess what, Pakistan Tennis Federation president Dilawar Abbas think otherwise by saying that any attempt to shift the tie would be refused!

(Via AP)

India could be the best in Asia

I'm still saddened by Rendy Lu's lost to Somdev Devvarman in the fourth rubber in last weekend's Davis Cup tie between Taiwan and India.

His fluctuating performance is probably one of the reasons why I don't blog for days.

But to be fair to Rendy, India already knew from the start that they had the extra edge over Taiwan.

With Grand Slam doubles specialists like Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi, and upcoming tennis star like Somdev Devvarman, they look like a tough team to beat.

Kudos to the Indian Davis Cup team for making it to the third round where they will be meeting Australia who narrowly beat Thailand.

However congrats to Thai no. 1 Danai Udomchoke for his perfect performance in the second and fourth rubbers which saw him beating Australian teenage player Brydan Klein and former world no. 1 Lleyton Hewitt.

The other two countries who made it to the third round tie of the Asia/Oceania Zone Group 1 are Japan and Uzbekistan lead by Kei Nishikori and Denis Istomin respectively.

For complete results, click here.

(Images via udn.com, hindu.com, zimbio.com)

Rendy Lu Yen-Hsun's girlfriend spotted!

Finally we saw Rendy's Lu's girlfriend on Friday's Davis Cup tie between Taiwan and India.

We're still finding out her name.

The only clue we have now is her mom's a famous legislator in Taiwan.

Anyone any tips?

Sitting next to her is Rendy's brother, Thomas.

India, Taiwan to face off in Davis Cup tie

The Indian Davis Cup team believe they have the extra edge against Taiwan in the second round tie of the Asia/Oceania Zone Group I, starting tomorrow.

Based on ranking, new poster boy Somdev Devvarman who will take on Chen Ti in the opening singles rubber could win the first point for India.

Taiwan will heavily rely on Asia's no. 1 Rendy Lu Yen-Hsun. He missed Taiwan's first round tie against Kazakhstan, so his return has made the Taiwan team more confident.

But let us not forget that Rohan Bopanna is 2-1 in head-to-head against Lu over the last two years. Bopanna could steal a point in this second singles rubber if Rendy is to continue with his fluctuating game.

World's top doubles players Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi is expected to have little problem in dealing with Yang Tsung-Hua and Yi Chu-Huan.

The fourth and fifth rubbers are going to be tough and unpredictable. I do believe that Rendy will at least win a point from the two matches he's playing.

To watch the Davis Cup tie live streaming online, click here.

(Images posted by Elvis via menstennisforums.com)

All eyes on Kei Nishikori in Davis Cup tie vs China

Kei Nishikori and Zeng Shao-Xuan will lead the Japanese and Chinese Davis Cup teams respectively in the the second round tie of the Asia/Oceania Zone Group 1.

The event will be held at Namihaya Dome sub arena in Osaka from Friday to Sunday.

Kei will be joined by Go Soeda, Satoshi Iwabuchi and Takao Suzuki to represent Japan for the matchup against Zeng, Zhang Ze and Wu Di of China.

(Images via nikkansports.co)

Grigor Dimitrov: The face of a future star player

I simply couldn't resist these photos.

Grigor Dimitrov who has been touted as "better than Federer" by his coach, was at the Davis Cup press conference few days ago.

He is representing Bulgaria and will play against the Hungarian Davis Cup team in this weekend's Europe/Africa Zone Group 2 clash.


(Via menstennisforums.com)

Dirk Hordorff hired to coach Taiwan Davis Cup team

Taiwan Tennis Association has a new strategy to counter India Davis Cup team in this weekend's Asia/Oceania Zone Group I clash.

Rendy Lu Yen-Hsun's coach, Dirk Hordorff has been invited to train the Taiwan team at the very last minute.

He was at the press conference yesterday together with the entire Taiwan Davis Cup team.


(Image posted by Elvis via menstennisforums.com)

One million baht carrot for Thai Davis Cup team

The Thai Davis Cup team will earn a million baht bonus if they beat Australia in this weekend's Asia/Oceania Zone Group I clash.

The Thai team will be led by Danai Udomchoke with Sonchat and Sanchai Ratiwatana, Kittipong Vachiramanowong and Peerakiat Siriruethaiwattana.

Thanakorn Srichaphan is the team captain while his brother Paradorn, who cannot play because of an injured wrist, will be the assistant coach.

The Australian team is led by Lleyton Hewitt supported by Carsten Ball, Chris Guccione and Brydan Klein.

The winning team will meet either India or Taiwan in May.

Thai team manager Atat Nana said the players were looking forward to the event, especially as doubles pair Sonchat and Sanchai won a doubles title in Australia last week.

The match will be held at the National Tennis Development Centre, Muang Thong Thani from Friday until Sunday.

Lawn Tennis Association of Thailand (LTAT) offers 1,500 free tickets for fans on their website.

(Via Bangkok Post; Image via LTAT website)

Andy Roddick shows kids tennis a tough sport

Andy Roddick is trying to discourage the kids from picking up tennis, huh?

The United States Davis Cup tennis player shows the kids how to hit an oversize ball with an oversize racket during a tennis clinic after a press conference in Birmingham, Alabama yesterday.

Andy and and his teammates will be playing the first round series against Switzerland this Friday in Birmingham.

And talking about kids, I would like to share some photos sent to me by Esther given by the media team at yellowtennisball.com.

These photos were taken by Cecil Wise during Kids' Day at Delray Beach recently. Aren't they cute?


(Images via Yahoo! Sports, Cecil Wise)

It's better safe than sorry

Israeli tennis player Andy Ram said Swedish authorities made a “stupid decision” when they barred fans from the Davis Cup series between the two countries.

Well, Ram, take a look at what had happened to the Sri Lankan cricket team yesterday, and you might want to think twice.

Eight people were killed and seven other wounded in the attack when unidentified gunmen firing at the visiting Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore, the capital city of Punjab.



In the latest updates, New Zealand Cricket has called off their Pakistan tour scheduled in December.

Now back to tennis, I understand how frustrated Ram, his fellow teammates and the Swedish team were to play the first-round series in Malmo in an empty stadium.

Malmo city officials had to make the hardest decision by keeping the fans away as they couldn’t guarantee security at the 4,000-seat Baltic Hall.

Anti-Israel protests are already expected in Malmo, and about 1,000 police have been called to keep protesters from the arena.

After Sweden, other countries who will be playing Israel could follow suit.

“I think it was a wrong decision. I think it maybe can open the door for other countries to make a stupid decision like this one,” Ram said.

“I think it’s going to be very bad to play without a crowd.”

Harel Levy, another member of Israel’s four-man team, said it was wrong to mix sports and politics.

“We are here to play tennis,” Levy said.

“We are not here to talk about politics or to talk about terror.”

Dudi Sela and Noam Okun are also on the Israeli team.

Sweden are represented by Robert Lindstedt, Simon Aspelin, Bjorn Rehnquist and Daniel Berta. Veteran Thomas Johansson has been practicing with the Swedish team.

“We’re here since Sunday and we saw him (Johansson) play every day, practicing very hard, so he’s going to play,” Sela predicted.

Johansson, the 2002 Australian Open champion, was disappointed his country won’t get the benefit of a cheering crowd.

“When you play Davis Cup on home turf you want a full house, and we think it’s too bad that there won’t be,” he said.

(Via AP; Images by Drago Prvulovic/AFP/Getty Images via Yahoo! Sports)

Roger Federer to sit out of Davis Cup and Dubai tournament

Is he still recovering from the Australian Open heartache?

Roger Federer said he’ll miss Switzerland’s Davis Cup matches against the U.S. next month and next week’s tennis tournament in Dubai so he can fully recover from a back injury sustained last year.

“As a precautionary measure, I will use the next few weeks to make sure the back injury is fully rehabilitated and I am ready for the rest of the 2009 season,” Federer said on his website yesterday.

“This was a hard decision to make as I am missing not only one of my favorite events on tour in Dubai, but I am also missing out on an opportunity to help my country try and move on to the next round of Davis Cup."

Recover soon, Roger!

(Via rogerfederer.com)