Thailand take on Sri Lanka, Djokovic could face Murray
Thailand are confident that they will beat Sri Lanka in their Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Zone Group II tie which begins today at the National Tennis Development Centre, Muang Thong Thani.
Puriwat Chatpatcharoen, Thailand’s top player, will meet Harshana Godamanna and Pruchya Isarow will take on Sharmal Dissanayake in today’s opening singles matches following yesterday’s draw.
In tomorrow’s doubles match, Thai twins Sonchat and Sanchai Ratiwatana will face Dissanayake and Godamanna.
The reverse singles matches will take place on Sunday.
The winners of the tie will meet Indonesia or Vietnam in the second round.
Thailand coach Danai Udomchoke said: “We are confident that Pruchya will get a point for our team. Puriwat might be nervous as he is making his debut in the Davis Cup but we believe he can do it.”
Puriwat admitted he was nervous but also felt confident that he could help the team beat the visitors.
Thailand were relegated from Group I in 2015, while Sri Lanka defeated Lebanon in a relegation play-off to stay up in Group II.
Sri Lanka have never beaten Thailand in six meetings, with the last coming back in 2012.
Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray can set up a Davis Cup quarter-final blockbuster if they successfully pilot Serbia and defending champions Great Britain through the first round.
However, the world’s top two players will go into their home clashes against Kazakhstan and Japan respectively this weekend with question marks over their fitness and match sharpness.
World No.1 Djokovic saw his streak of 17 successive finals come to an end in Dubai last week when an eye infection forced a quarter-final retirement.
Murray, meanwhile, hasn’t hit a ball in anger since losing to old rival Djokovic in the Australian Open final almost five weeks ago.
The 28-year-old took February off after his wife Kim gave birth to their first child, Sophia.
Djokovic led Serbia to the 2010 Davis Cup title.
“I am optimistic and I hope that I am going to play,” said the 11-time major winner. “I was a little sceptical but now all is going well.”
Djokovic and No.23 Viktor Troicki will play singles for the Serbs in Belgrade while Kazakhstan’s top player is Mikhail Kukushkin, the world No.79.
Murray, who led Great Britain to their first Davis Cup title in 79 years last November, said being a new father has not affected his sleep patterns.
The key clash in Birmingham could come on Sunday when Murray takes on Japan’s top player, Kei Nishikori, the world No.6.