Davis Cup tennis begins in Colombo on Wednesday

The Davis Cup Asia-Oceania Zone Group 3 tennis tournament will be held from July 26 to 30 at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association (SLTA) courts in Colombo.The Davis Cup, also known as the World Cup of international men’s tennis, will be the biggest tennis event held in Sri Lanka this year.

Eight countries/regions will take part in the tournament vying for the top three places, which will earn them a place in the Davis Cup World Group 2 next year.The eight participating countries/regions are: Cambodia, Iran, Malaysia, Jordan, Pacific Oceania (region), Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.

The countries will play in two round-robin groups, the top two of each group will be promoted to group two while the two teams placed second will play a promotional play off match. The top three countries will qualify for the Davis Cup World Group 2 while the last two of the eight participating countries will be relegated to the Asia-Oceania Group 4 next year. The loser of the two second placed teams play off and the two teams placed third will remain in group 3 for next year.The matches will be played on the SLTA clay courts providing Sri Lanka a handy home advantage.

Sri Lanka team:

For the first time in recent history, Sri Lanka who have qualified from the zonal Group 4 to 3 this time, will be fielding an all-young team.The two leading campaigners this time in the five-member team are Thehan Wijemanne and Chathurya Nilaweera, who both have an experience of mere nine ties between them.

Wijemanne made his Davis Cup debut in 2020 while Nilaweera made his debut in 2021.

The three other players of the team are Ashen Silva (who was in the team last year), Dhilvan Hearth and Apna Perera. All three are yet to make their Davis Cup debut. Sri Lanka’s Non-playing Captain cum Coach is Renouk Wijemanne.