Hong Kong to Host Davis Cup Playoff

Hong Kong, China, will host the playoff of the 2000 Asia/Oceania Zone Group II for the Davis Cup tennis tournament from April 7 to 9.

According to a draw made Thursday, Melvin Tong, number one player from the host, will take on Kazakhstan's second single player Pavel Baranov while Hong Kong's number two player Wayne Wong is to face Kazakhstan's top player Alexei Kedruyk on the opening day in the first two singles.

The second day will see Tong and Chris Numbers fight against Alexei Kedruyk and Pavel Baranov in the doubles Saturday. On Sunday Tong and Wong are going to match Alexei Kedruyk and Pavel Baranov in the reverse singles.

Hong Kong, China, was defeated by Pakistan in February in the first round of the group 3-2 while Kazakhstan was outgunned by Chinese Taipei 4-1.

The winners of the playoff will remain in Group II while the losers will be relegated to Group III of the zone in 2001. This is the first time the two teams will meet in the cup history.

"We know Hong Kong is a very strong team, but we will succeed after the three days, " said Kazakhstan's captain Vledimir Velts. Hong Kong's captain Derek Ling said the match will be hard and fair.

Davis Cup tennis, inaugurated in 1900, has been the top-level annual tournament for the men's team tennis in the world.



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