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World Team Cup, Group 4, Round Two
Sri Lanka vs. Peru, Grass
Monday: A. Mehul d. M. Herrera, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5
Tuesday: T. Herrera d. G. Girsh, 6-2, 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-4
Wednesday: V. Bureba/J. Torres d. G. Girsh/A. Mehul, 7-6(8), 1-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4
Thursday: A. Mehul d. T. Herrera, 7-6(3), 6-3, 6-2
Friday: G. Girsh d. M. Herrera, 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-3, 4-6, 6-2
Sri Lanka defeats Peru, 3-2!
Wow. This was a lot more drama than we bargained for, and Girsh's disappointing form continues. He had one key moment against Thiago Herrera in the second match; trailing 5-4 at the end of the third, he had two break points to get even at 15-40 but couldn't convert, and a disappointing loss there was followed by an epic doubles encounter. We actually had more points than the Peruvians(161-154) but they had more of the ones that matter to outlast us.
After Mehul took care of business to keep us in the tie, Girsh faced Marcelo Herrera to decide things once and for all. They went the distance as well, with Herrera converting three of four break chances to keep it close though Girsh was clearly the better player. Still not pleased with his form on the week, and we should have won this tie much easier, but ultimately we did win -- and clinched our first-ever Level 1 quarterfinals berth in the process.
In a couple months, the final group match against Spain will be favorably indoors, and determine the Group 4 first-place spot. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka is up four spots to 17th in the world!
Coming Up ...
Mehul will take all of the season's first significant break off, a full month until Indian Wells. Girsh will take three weeks, then head to Delray Beach(250, Hard) as a warmup. That same week as IW is Copa Gerdau in Brazil, the next big juniors event on the year('A' category, essentially a junior-level masters). So that will be a busy time, but for now it's back to the practice courts.
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