Tennis: Davis Cup team seek promotion

New Zealand have the chance next weekend to achieve what they have failed to do in the past four years - win promotion.

The country's record in the Davis Cup in recent years is not one to look back on with fondness and next week sees a chance to get a toehold on the long climb up.

It's not like New Zealand is knocking on the door of the world group, where they were semifinalists in 1982.

Instead, they have the task of trying to get back into Asia-Oceania Group I to join such luminaries as Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Korea and Chinese Taipei.

They were relegated from Asia-Oceania Group I in 2004 and have failed to get back there since. Last year, they led 2-0 in the final against China but lost the last three matches, including a five-setter in the last rubber, to lose 3-2.

Next weekend, they take on the Philippines in Manila but are confronted with the difficult proposition of playing on an unusual compressed clay indoor surface. It's not like the clay used at the French Open - and has been described as compressed volcanic dust.

Regardless, New Zealand's line-up of Dan King-Turner (ranked 343 in the world), Rubin Statham (395), GD Jones (845) and Oliver Statham (895) is significantly stronger than their opponents and is the same as the one that defeated Indonesia 5-0 in Hamilton in July.

The Philippines are headed by American-born Cecil Mamiit, who is ranked 410 in the world but was as high as 72 in 1999. Treat Conrad Huey is the next highest at 1008, while neither Jonny Arcilla nor Vincente Elberto Anasta have a ranking.

New Zealand assembled in Bangkok last week to train indoors at the Thai Academy and the players arrived in relatively good form. King-Turner was runner-up at an ITF Futures Tournament in Thailand last weekend, while Jones has won consecutive doubles finals in Israel.

Given their standing, however, New Zealand won't be taking anything for granted.