Mamiit faces Ito in Davis opener
By Mars G. Alison
Cebu Daily News
First Posted 08:58:00 03/04/2011
For the first time in seven Davis Cup outings, PH no.1 Cecil Mamiit will open the matches for the Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Group I Tie between the Philippines and Japan today at the Plantation Bay Resort and Spa in Lapu-Lapu City.
Mamiit will go up against Japan's no.2-ranked player Tatsuma Ito, whom he said he had met before in a non-bearing match.
“This is the first time that I get to start first. In six out of six outings Treat (PH no.2 Treat Conrad Huey) has always played first and this is the 7th and I'm starting first. It's going to be our turn because everything is different, different atmosphere, different setup, different faces,” Mamiit said.
Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza, who was given the honor to draw the names, said she dug deep in the clay jar and chose to pick out the slip of paper that was at the bottom and came out with Mamiit's name.
Mamiit joked around with the audience during the yesterday’s draw press conference at the Lapu-Lapu City Hall. He remarked that if Japan wanted to start the matches with their young boys, the Philippines wanted the oldest player to open their matches for them.
This in response to Japan team captain Eiji Takeuchi's announcement that it was a good draw because their young netter (Ito), who likes to play a fast match, likes to go first. At 34, Mamiit is the oldest player in the team while Ito is 22 years old.
The second match will see Huey going up against Japan's no.1 player Go Soeda, who is ranked 108th in the ATP rankings.
Chosen to play in the doubles tomorrow is Johnny Arcilla and Elbert Anasta, who will face Hiroki Kondo and Takao Suzuki.
Mamiit and Huey, however, could go all the way and play in the doubles but the latter said it would depend on the situation.
“Treat and I could be too tired to play in the doubles so I put them there so they would be prepared but we will see what happens,” Mamiit said.
On Sunday's reverse matches, Mamiit will go up against Soeda while closing off the international tournament, which is being held for the first time outside Manila, will be Huey facing Ito.
Cebuana Lhuillier Davis Cup Team coach Chris Cuarto earlier said he hoped Huey would open the matches as the team would often end up with good results when he does come first.
But he had no problem with Mamiit opening the matches and remains confident of the team's chances.
Huey, for his part, said it didn't matter whoever starts first because each of them will be playing their best.
“I could show our players that these guys are humans, that we are equals, they can play tennis, we can play tennis too,” Mamiit said.
He added that momentum is what the team would need to win against Japan and this is why he'd rather get things started right away.
“Momentum kicking in from Korea, momentum in getting the first point, momentum in the first set...it is being positive and finding groove for the PH team,” Mamiit said.
He shrugged off his and Huey's 0-2 start in Korea last year saying that they had come back to win the doubles and eventually the reverse matches, which allowed the Philippines to stay in the Asia/Oceania Group I.
“We've done it before, we could do it again,” Mamiit said.
After the draw, the RP Davis Cup team paid a visit to the Parish of Virgen de la Regla (Virgin of the Rule) to pay homage to Lapu-Lapu City's patron.
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... we need reinforcements in there to cheer and lift our athlete's spirit up!
Re: Attention Tennis Fans - Davis Cup will be in Lapu-Lapu City
Originally Posted by cmcanch
Yatap!)
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