Dubai: The UAE kept their hopes of avoiding Davis Cup relegation alive by securing a fighting 2-1 win over Singapore on the second day of their Asia/Oceania Zone Group III match being played in Tehran.
Played on the red clay at the Enghelab Sports Complex in the Iranian capital, young Hamad Abbas Al Janahi gave the UAE the lead with a 6-3, 6-4 win over the experienced Roy Hobbs.
However, Singapore’s Yong Jie Issac Ong, who turned 17 at the end of last month, secured a 6-3, 6-4 win over UAE number one Omar Bahroozian to draw level.
In the crucial doubles against Hobbs and Ong, the UAE pair of Bahroozian and Al Janahi lost the opening set 6-2. But they did well to take the next two sets 6-2, 6-4 to secure the UAE’s first victory after two encounters.
The UAE lost 3-0 to hosts Iran on the opening day of the competition on Wednesday. The UAE’s next match will be against Lebanon and, should they lose, they would need to win a play-off encounter.
The hosts, meanwhile, caused an upset when they dumped second-seeded Lebanon 3-0. If Iran now beat winless Singapore, then they will brighten their chances of getting a promotion to Group II in 2015.
In Pool A, top seeds Malaysia earned a second win in as many days with a 2-1 victory over Syria. Syed Aqil Naguib and Mohammad Assri Merzuki gave Malaysia a 2-0 lead before Bruno and Marc Abdul Nour won the dead rubber doubles to give Syria a consolation.
Cambodia earned their first win in Pool B by defeating Turkmenistan 2-1. Phalkum Mam and Kenny Bun gave Cambodia a 2-0 lead before Turkmenistan won the doubles.
