By Revatha S. Silva
DAVIS CUP - HISTORY & FACTS
[caption id="attachment_161403" align="alignnone" width="459"]
In 1953 in The Hague, Netherlands: Sri Lanka’s (then Ceylon) first-ever Davis Cup team (from left): Percy Ernst, Douglas Fonseka, Lionel Fonseka (Manager), Douglas Scharenguivel, and Rupert Ferdinands[/caption]
Founded: In 1900 (121 years ago)
Founder: Dwight F. Davis
No. of teams: 18 (in World Group)
Countries: All ITF* member nations
Most recent champion: Spain (6th title)
Most titles: U.S.A. (32 titles)
SRI LANKA IN DAVIS CUP
Champions: 0
First year played: 1953 in Scheveningen, The Hague, Netherlands
Years played: 61
Ties played**: 140 (67 - 73)
Years in World Group: 0
Most total wins: Harshana Godamanna (75-28)
Most singles matches wins: Harshana Godamanna (46-17)
Most doubles matches wins: Harshana Godamanna (29-11) and Rajeev Rajapakse (29-13)
Best doubles team: Harshana Godamanna & Rajeev Rajapakse (18-5)
Most ties played: Harshana Godamanna (55)
Most years played: Bernard Pinto (17) and Harshana Godamanna (17)
Youngest player: Franklyn Emmanuel (14 years and 54 days)
Oldest player: Bernard Pinto (44 years and 231 days)
*ITF=International Tennis Federation
** Tie=Meeting between two countries
[caption id="attachment_161404" align="aligncenter" width="701"]
The Sri Lanka Davis Cup team now in Jordan for Asia-Oceania Zone Group-III: (from left) Renouk Wijemanne (Non-playing Captain), Chathurya Nilaweera, Yasitha De Silva, Thehan Wijemanne, and Vibuda Wijebandara. Photo Ishan Wanniarachchi [/caption]
The main challenge Sri Lanka men’s tennis team will be facing this time in the Davis Cup, the annual international men’s world cup of tennis, will be to carry the country back in the zonal Group-II.
Sri Lanka is playing at the Davis Cup Asia-Oceania Zone Group III aiming to contest the 2022 World Group-II Play-offs. If they are to do so, they will need to end up among top three out nine participating countries.
Davis Cup is currently sponsored by Rakuten Group Inc., a Japanese electronic commerce and online retailing company based in Tokyo.
This year’s Asia-Oceania Zone Group-III will be held in the Jordan Tennis Federation in Amman, Jordan, on outdoor hard courts from today (15) to Saturday (18).
The following nine nations are competing:
Hong Kong, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Pacific Oceania (region), Qatar, Sri Lanka, Syria, and Vietnam (withdrawn: Philippines)
Format:
Three pools of three teams will contest the round-robin stage of the event. The top two teams in each pool will play-off, with the three winners earning promotion. The bottom team in each pool will be relegated to Asia-Oceania Group IV next year.
Sri Lanka Team:
Yasitha De Silva, Thehan Wijemanne, Vibuda Wijebandara, Chathurya Nilaweera, and Non-playing Captain Renouk Wijemanne