[Brian Swartz]

World Team Cup Level 3 Playoffs
Sri Lanka vs. Colombia, Indoors

Monday: M. Datar d. F. Grande, 6-3, 3-6, 6-7(3), 6-4, 6-1
Tuesday: A. Sankait l , 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 l. P. Gonzalvez, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2
Wednesday: Intodia/Sankait l. Gonzalvez/Marulanda, 6-4, 7-5, 6-1
Thursday: M. Datar l. P. Gonzalvez, 6-0, 6-2, 6-2
Friday: A. Sankait d. F. Grande, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2

Colombia defeats Sri Lanka, 3-2. Pepito Gonzalvez, presently ranked 100th, is a player we just couldn't compete with. Datar had a good win on the first day, and Sankait got one at the end, but we needed to win doubles and ... nope. It was a surprise to me that Manoj Datar wasn't allowed to play there - he's the #1-ranked player in doubles for Sri Lanka by far. It seems that, even though it doesn't work that way for singles, doubles teams might be chosen at the start of the year and not adjusted for changes that happen? We'll find out soon enough as it's a quick turnaround for our demotion to Level 4. Colombia meanwhile stays up.

- Malta 5, Belgium 0. Malta star Oscar Woodger (18th) generally hasn't been enough to get them anywhere, but the rest of the players have improved, and they reached the Level 4 final this year. They move up to Level 3, while Belgium is demoted.

- Phillipines 3, Lithuania 2. Both reached the Level 4 semifinals, and after splitting one-sided singles matchups it was all down to the doubles. Phillipines promotes to Level 3.

- South Africa 5, Morocco 0. South Africa was the Level 4 champion this year, while Morocco continues a yo-yo between the levels and goes down. They were there a couple of years ago, then promoted up at the expense of the Phillipines. Couldn't stick though, losing every round this season.