BAHRAIN got off to a disappointing start yesterday as play in Group II of the 2018 Fed Cup Asia/Oceania began at the Bahrain Tennis Federation courts in Isa Town.
Bahrain suffered a 0-3 loss to Indonesia in Pool ‘D’ of the tournament’s opening round-robin stage.
Safa Safar was the first to get onto the hard courts for the home side. She faced Aldila Sutjiadi, who comfortably won the rubber 6-0, 6-0. Bahrain’s Nazil Nader Redha was then dealt her own 0-6, 0-6 result by Indonesia’s Beatrice Gumulya.
Maya Bseisu and Redha then teamed up for Bahrain to try and salvage a positive outcome from the series, but they too were given a disheartening 0-6, 0-6 defeat at the hands of Deria Nur Haliza and Jessy Rompies.
Also claiming a win in Pool ‘D’ were Pakistan, who got the better of Sri Lanka 2-1. Mahin Qureshi opened the proceedings for the Pakistanis with a 6-3, 6-3 result over Nethmi Himashi Waduge.
Anika Seneviratne then got one back for Sri Lanka, beating Ushna Suhail in three sets 6-3, 4-6, 6-3. Qureshi and Suhail were then 6-1, 6-4 winners over the duo of Seneviratne and Waduge in the third runner, securing the final result for Pakistan.
Today, Bahrain and Sri Lanka will be hoping to bounce back from their respective losses when they face each other, while Indonesia take on Pakistan.
In Pool ‘A’ yesterday, Uzbekistan defeated Lebanon 3-0.
Yasmina Karimjanova beat Nancy Karaky in straight sets 6-2, 6-0. Sabina Sharipova then made quick work of Hoda Habib 6-0, 6-1; and then Nigina Abduraimova and Akgul Amanmuradova beat Karaky and Sara Nassif 6-2, 6-3 to close out the series.
The Lebanese will be hoping to make up for their defeat when they take on New Zealand today as Uzbekistan have a rest day.
In Pool ‘B’, the Philippines were made to sweat in a 2-1 win over Kyrgyzstan yesterday.
In rubber one, Maria Jade Capadocia defeated Saara Kunakunova 6-1, 6-2 to give the Filipinos the early lead. Katharina Lehnert then suffered a narrow loss in rubber two to Ksenia Palkina 5-7, 6-3, 5-7. Lehnert then teamed up with Anna Clarice Patrimonio to beat Kanykey Koichumanova and Palkina 6-4, 6-3 to get the Philippines’ campaign off to a bright start.
The Philippine team will be off today as Kyrgyzstan take on Singapore.
In Pool ‘C’, Pacific Oceania and Oman were both victorious. Pacific Oceania beat Iran 3-0, while Oman got the better of Malaysia 2-1.
Steffi Carruthers beat Saar Azaddoost 6-1, 6-0 and Carol Youngsuh Lee outplayed Kimiya Asbaghipour with a similar 6-1, 6-0 score. The tandem of Carruthers and Abigail Tere-Apisah then defeated Shahrzad Banisaeid and Kimia Rahmani 6-0, 6-0.
Oman’s Sarah Al Balushi won against Malaysian Theiviya Selvarajoo in straight sets 1-6, 2-6. Fatma Al Nabhani then got one back for the Gulf side, beating Suhana Sofia 6-2, 7-5. In the third rubber, Fatma Al Nabhani and Sarah Al Balushi overcame a tough challenge from the duo of Jawairiah Noordin and Theiviya Selvarajoo 6-4, 6-7 (4-7), 7-5.
Malaysia and Iran clash in today’s Pool ‘D’ action while Pacific Oceania battle Oman.
Today’s matches are scheduled to get underway at 10am at the BTF.