Cuppers to lean on home edge

MANILA, Philippines - Holding the home court edge again, Philippine Davis Cup non-playing team captain Roland Kraut likes the country’s chances against Thailand in the semifinals of their Asia-Oceania Group II tie slated two months from now.

Kraut said familiarity with the slow surface of the Plantation Bay in Cebu is definitely to the advantage of the Filipino Cuppers, not to mention the crowd support that is expected to come their way just like in their first round meeting with Syria early this month which the host won, 4-1.

The Philippine-Thailand Davis Cup tie is set April 5-7.

“We can’t get any better than this,” said Kraut. â€œWe definitely have a very good chance (against Thailand).”

Although the Filipinos are ranked a notch higher than the Thais at No. 2 in Group II, the visitors will be fielding in a tough lineup led by veteran and world No. 190 Danai Udomchoke with former world top 10 contender Paradorn Srichaphan as non-playing team captain.

The Philippines holds a 3-2 edge over Thailand in their all-time Davis Cup head-to-head meeting.