RP, Pakistan split opening singles

Nobody said it was going to be easy.

And based on yesterday’s results, it’s not that difficult to say that the Philippines is in trouble of getting past Pakistan in their Asia Oceania Group 2 Davis Cup tie at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

Fil-American Cecil Mamiit lived up to his billing as the country’s top player when he danced and jiggled his way past Jalil Khan, 6-1, 6-0, 6-1, in the opening singles of the crucial best-of-five tie.

"I was nervous coming out here. But the crowd was spectacular. Mainit dito. Mainit talaga (It was too hot out here)," he said after the relatively easy match that lasted an hour and 11 minutes.

Despite the heat, which required Mamiit to soak his cap in ice-cold water during breaks, he had great fun beating Jalil. During breaks, he danced to the music played on the public address system.

"I hope this sets the tone. I hope this eases some pressure off Eric (Taino)," said Mamiit, using the microphone, during a post-match interview at centercourt.

Mamiit was wrong.

Taino, another Fil-American, had a long, difficult time against Pakistani veteran Aqeel Khan. Both players were hit by cramps but Aqeel came out the winner, 6-4, 0-6, 7-6 (7-1), 7-5.

The match started shortly before noon and lasted more than three hours. The heat was simply too hard to bear for both Taino and Aqeel but it was the former who suffered more.

After splitting the opening singles, the two countries prepare for today’s doubles set at 1 p.m. The winner will gain a 2-1 edge and will only need to win one of the two reverse singles tomorrow to clinch the tie.

Patrick John Tierro and Johnny Arcilla were listed as the Philippines’ doubles pair while it will be Yasir Khan and Asim Shafik for Pakistan, which is trying to regain the Group 1 slot it lost last year.

Davis Cup rules, however, allow changes in the lineup an hour before the match. And it’s highly possible that all four players who saw action yesterday will see action today, then tomorrow.

"We’ll have to talk about it. I have to consider the condition of Eric. But I would prefer using Cecil and Eric for the doubles," said RP team head coach Martin Misa.

The Philippines cannot afford to lose today.