Tierro survives Sri Lankan rival, gives Ph 1-0 lead

MANILA, Philippines -- Patrick John Tierro hung tough enough in the final three sets to eke out a vengeful 5-7, 3-6, 6-4, 6-0, 6-3 victory over Sri Lankan Harshana Godamanna to give the Cebuana Lhuillier-backed Philippine team an important 1-0 lead in the opening singles of their Davis Cup Asia-Oceania Group II tie at the Valle Verde Country Club in Pasig City Friday night.

Undone by his erratic game, Tierro, the Phl’s No. 1 netter, mustered enough strength in turning it around in his favor as he dominated Godamanna, the former Sri Lanka No. 1, the last three to steal the match.
When it was over, Tierro raised his hands, pointed to the wild-cheering crowd and hugged his teammates at the shell-clay court.

“I could’ve given up after two sets but I didn’t. The key was not giving up,” said Tierro, 29.

Tierro thus avenged his painful 3-6, 7-6 (8), 6-4, 2-6, 3-6 defeat at the hands of Godamanna in a 4-1 Phl victory in Colombo, Sri Lanka last year.

Fil-Am Ruben Gonzales, fresh from snaring an ATP Challenger singles title last week in Mexico, was playing Sri Lankan No. 1, 19-year-old Sharmal Dissanayake, in the second singles match being played at press time.

World-ranked Treat Conrad Huey and Pepperdine University standout Francis Casey Alcantara are scheduled to play Dineshkanthan Thangarajah and Sankha Atukorale in the doubles at 3 p.m. on Saturday.

The reverse single is set on Sunday with Gonzales clashing with Godamanna and Tierro battling Dissanayake.

After fighting tooth and nail in the first 10 games of the match, Godamanna punished Tierro for his unforced errors to take the next two games and turn a five-all deadlock to a first set victory.

Godamanna continued to play steady in the second set and dominated Tierro by breaking the latter twice to handily seize a commanding two sets to nothing lead.

After battling to a nervewracking four-all deadlock, Tierro found his rhythm and lined up brilliant winners after winners to take the next two games and the third set that kept the beleaguered Filipino into the game.

Tickets in the event, which is sponsored by Cebuana Lhuillier, Yonex, Pasig City and the Philippine Sports Commission, are priced at P1,000 for a three-day pass, and P500 for a day pass. New Zealand’s David Smith is the head ITF referee.