Tough run for Kenya in Davis Cup c*mes c******g
Kenya’s attempt to end a 25-year wait for a return to competitive Davis Cup with the big boys crumbled hard after losing their tie 0-4 against Indonesia after two days of four matches.
This hammering was witnessed during the ITF World Group II Ply-Offs played at Jakarta’s Stadia Tenis Gelora Bung Karno Stadium. It would appear the hard court surface put some brakes as well to the local lads who were captained by Rosemary Owino in what was a brute assessment of the high level of competition.
Indeed, day one saw Kenya go 2-0 down after less than three hours with top seeds Ismael Changawa and Sheil Kotecha losing their rubbers in straight sets. Kotecha who stepped onto the court first lost to second seed Christopher Rungkat 6-2,6-1 in a match that lasted only 63 minutes.
Top seed for Kenya Changawa on his part fought hard but ultimately fell also against David Susanto in straight sets of 6-2,6-4. With Kenya needing a doubles rubber win to stay alive in the contest and fight for promotion, the Indonesians had different ideas despite the contest being decided on a third set tie-break which eventually they won 6-7(2),7-6(6),7-6(3).
The partnership who lost in this crucial rubber for Kenya were Ibrahim Kibet and Ismael Changawa.
Kenya’s other contestant Kevin Cheruiyot was also impeccable especially in the first set but eventually lost to Gunawan Trismuwantara 6-4,6-2 to end Kenya’s lofty dreams albeit in pain. It was a harsh lesson of levels plus gap in class and Team Kenya is now back to the drawing board after a journey of rebuilding that has taken almost four years.
Meanwhile two teams from the girls’ pool and one team from the boys’ pool have qualified for the Africa Junior Team Championship to be held in Morocco early September.
