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Old 03-07-2016, 06:50 PM   #286
Brian Swartz
Grizzled Veteran
 
Join Date: May 2006
World Team Cup, Group Three, Second Round
Sri Lanka vs. Germany, Grass

Monday: A. Mehul d. H. Oncken, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3
Tuesday: B. Benda d. G. Girsh, 6-3, 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-3
Wednesday: H. Arendt/E. Ercan d. S. Ujjaval/R. Kuttikad, 6-3, 6-3, 6-0
Thursday: A. Mehul d. B. Benda, 7-5, 6-7(5), 6-7(6), 7-5, 6-4
Friday: G. Girsh d. H. Oncken, 6-3, 6-4, 7-5

Sri Lanka defeats Germany, 3-2!!

With that, revenge is served ... barely. After Benda defeated Girsh for the sixth time in seven meetings -- I'm at a loss for why at this point -- he took a pair of tiebreaks from Mehul, reversing fortunes in their match and putting us just one set from defeat. Anil Mehul rallied to win a very long, pretty close match, and then Girsh closed the deal on the final day. Bjorn Benda earned even more respect this week though. He's nearly 30, but he nearly ruined us for the third straight year. Big sigh of relief really at this point, having them knock us out again would have been a real gut-shot.

So we're in the quarterfinals now, the only thing left is to figure out if we win the group. For that to happen, somebody needs to beat Iglar on hardcourt in the spring. The chances of that are ... well, they aren't good. Joining us in the knockout rounds will be the Czech Republic, United States, Peru, and Argentina. The other spots will go to the Spain/Austria winner and two of France/Italy/Russia in crazy group four, pending on who wins their deciding ties.

We're up a spot to a hair above Austria at 7th now, at least for the moment. Next up, the first of three long breaks with Mehul and Girsh both off for a month until Indian Wells. Mooljee will be on the practice courts for almost that long also. .

Last edited by Brian Swartz : 03-07-2016 at 06:51 PM.
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