Tennis: NZ wins Davis Cup tie

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New Zealand have won their Davis Cup tennis tie against the Philippines after the doubles pairing of Artem Sitak and Marcus Daniell won the doubles rubber to give them an unassailable 3-0 lead in Hawera today.

Sitak and Daniell won the match in straight sets, 7-6 (0), 6-3, 6-2 to secure the tie for the hosts after Rubin Statham and Michael Venus took both opening singles rubbers yesterday.

The New Zealand pairing were taken to a tiebreak in the opening set before romping home 7-0 with Cecil Mamiit double faulting to concede the set.

They then broke the Philippines combination of Mamiit and Ruben Gonzales early in the second set to lead 3-1 before the Filipinos broke break to level matters at 3-3 only for New Zealand to take the next three games and the set 6-3.

The New Zealand pairing then broke serve three times in the third set to take the set convincingly 6-2.

The result means New Zealand stay in group one of the Asia-Oceania zone and could face Australia at home next year.

The reverse singles, which is now academic, is played tomorrow.

- NZPA