Host Hong Kong, China, met strong resistance from Kazakhstan before clinching the play-off 3- 2 here Sunday at the 2000 Asia/Oceania Zone Group II for the Davis Cup tennis tournament.
Kazakhstan's top player Alexei Kedruyk was stretched to full sets before edging out Hong Kong's number one Melvin Tong 6-3, 3-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-2 in the first reverse singles.
The tall and powerful Kazak made the play-off a 2-2 tie. In the second reverse singles, Hong Kong's 19-year-old Wayne Wong did not let hundreds of local spectators and his teammates down, overwhelming 19-year-old Pavel Baranov 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (7-5) and 6-2.
Hong Kong will stay in the Group II of the Asia/Oceania Zone in 2001, and Kazakstan was relegated to the Group III the next season. Hong Kong and Kazakstan were outclassed by Pakistan and Chinese Taipei respectively in the first round of the Zone in February.
Host Hong Kong, China, met strong resistance from Kazakhstan before clinching the play-off 3- 2 here Sunday at the 2000 Asia/Oceania Zone Group II for the Davis Cup tennis tournament.
