UAE and Belgium to clash in Nations Cup final

Dubai : The UAE and Belgium sailed into the final of the 21st Nations Cup tennis with contrasting semifinal wins at the Al Nasr Leisureland tennis courts late on Thursday.

The home side secured a fighting 2-1 win against defending champions Australia in a repeat of last year's final, while Belgium coasted through to an emphatic 2-0 win against the Philippines.

Australia got off to a winning start with Troy Gillham beating Omar Behroozian 6-7 (7), 6-2, 6-2 only to see Gregory Howe going down in straight sets to Mahmoud Nader Al Baloushi 6-2, 6-3 to force the deciding doubles.

With Howe not yet fully recovered from his leg injury, Al Baloushi and Behroozian always had the edge over the defending champions as they won 6-2, 6-2 to set a meeting against Belgium in today's final.

Belgium, meanwhile, did not even break sweat as they won 2-0 against the Philippines. Kenneth Cauwenberg skipped past Ilek Tabura 6-3, 6-2 and then Michael Van Herck beat Neil Bulilan 6-1, 6-2.

UAE ‘A' bt Australia 2-1; Belgium bt Philippines 2-0.