India Loses to Hong Kong in Asia-Oceania Junior Davis Cup, Qualifies for Quarterfinals

Samarth Sahita's valiant victory in his singles match proved insufficient as India succumbed to a 2-1 defeat against Hong Kong in the third league encounter of the Asia-Oceania Junior Davis Cup under-16 boys tennis tournament. Despite Sahita's triumph, India's overall performance in the group stage secured them a berth in the quarterfinals.

In the opening singles match, Siu Cheng of Hong Kong faced off against Sahita. Cheng displayed resilience, overcoming a 3-6 deficit in the first set to win 7-6(1). However, Sahita regained his composure in the second set, claiming it 6-3. The third set proved to be a nail-biter, with Cheng ultimately prevailing 6-3.

In the second singles match, Jack Cheng of Hong Kong faced Aradhya Kshitij of India. Cheng dominated the match, securing a 7-5, 6-1 victory. The doubles match, featuring Jack Cheng and Siu Cheng for Hong Kong and Aradhya Kshitij and Samarth Sahita for India, was a one-sided affair. The Hong Kong duo cruised to a 6-4, 6-1 victory, sealing the tie for their team.

Despite the loss, India's second-place finish in the group ensured their qualification for the quarterfinals. They will face Group C topper Taiwan, which defeated Australia 2-1 in the final league match. Cruz Hewitt, son of former World No. 1 and Wimbledon champion Lleyton Hewitt, won his singles match for Australia, but the team ultimately fell short.

Other teams to advance to the knockout phase include host Kazakhstan, China, Japan, and Korea. The top four teams from the zone will qualify for the World Group competition to be held later.

Tags: #Tennis, #JuniorDavisCup, #SamarthSahita, #India, #HongKong