Thai beat Indonesia 4-1 in Davis Cup

Thai beat Indonesia 4-1 in Davis Cup

Associated Press, Bangkok

Thailand's Paradorn Srichaphan won the match rubber on Sunday
to seal Thailand's victory over Indonesia in their Davis Cup Zone
Asia/Oceania Group I playoff.

Paradorn, world ranked 56, fended off a challenge from
Indonesian underdog Prima Simpatiaji, taking his reverse singles
match 6-2 6-7 (5), 6-2, 7-6 (6) in three hours.

The win gave the hosts a 3-1 victory, making the Sunday's
other singles match, in which Thailand's Sanchai Ratiwatana
defeated Sunu Wahyu Trijati 7-6 (4), 6-2, irrelevant.

With the victory, Thailand secured its place in Group I for
next year, while Indonesia will be relegated to Group II.

Paradorn took solid control at the beginning of his match but
produced a flurry of unforced errors in the second and fourth
sets. He saved three set points at 3-6 in the fourth set tie
break and stuck it out for the win.

"He played well and I did not get used to his ball speed. So
it became a longer match than I'd expected. But it was experience
that pulled me through the fourth set," he said.

In Auckland, New Zealand, Lee Hyung-taik beat New Zealand's
Mark Nielsen 6-2, 7-6 (8), 6-3 in Sunday's reverse singles to
give South Korea a 3-2 victory in the playoff.

Lee won all three of his matches in straight sets to clinch
the Group Two final and give South Korea promotion to Asia-
Oceania Group I for the next Cup season.

Rubin Statham beat Kim Sun-yong 6-4, 6-4 in the final singles,
too late to save the match for New Zealand, which will play in
Group II again next year.

Lee beat Dan King-Turner 6-0, 7-6 (5), 6-1 in Friday's opening
singles and combined with Kwon Oh-hee to beat Nielsen and King-
Turner in the pivotal doubles.

Nielsen won his opening singles 0-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-0, 5-2 over
I'm Kyu-tae who was forced to retire in the final set after
sustaining a leg injury.