Australia on top of China after the opening day’s play in round one – Davis Cup 2012
Strong Australian squad faced no trouble on the opening day of the Davis Cup tie against a bleak Chinese team. Former world number one, Lleyton Hewitt and the rising star Bernard Tomic did the job for Team Australia, winning the
two singles rubbers on Friday to take a 2-0 lead in the qualifying tie for the Asia-Oceania.
It was already anticipated that the Aussies have enough gun powder to blow away the Chinese opponents in a comprehensive manner and the first day’s play proved it. Hewitt started off the proceedings from his side and took down
the Chinese spearhead, Zhang Ze, in the opening singles rubber. He ousted Ze in straight sets, 6-2, 6-1, 7-6(4) to take a 1-0 lead up front. Hewitt took the opening two sets with commanding ease but the Chinese opponent finally posed some late resistance in
the third set before he succumbed in the tie-breaker round.
19-year-old Australian prodigy, Tomic, featured the second singles rubber of the day, taking on the Chinese number two, Wu Di. It was an enthralling three-set battle but Tomic used his crafty game play to overcome his inferior-ranked
opponent, settling the final scores at 6-4, 7-6(3), 6-3, to take his side 2-0 up against Team China.
Captain of Team Australia, Patrick Rafter, was extremely delighted on the performances of his two ace players and hope they will keep on with their fiery game play in the upcoming matches on day two also. Rafter backed up Tomic
for putting up a brilliant performance and believes that his team will register a white-wash against the Chinese squad on the second day’s play.
"Lleyton played really well, I thought," said Rafter."The other guy came at him really hard in the third set and Lleyton held him off really well. Bernie more than anything probably struggled mentally a little. It's hard for him
to get up sometimes for these type of matches. He's playing someone he knows he should beat and he's clearly a better player. He probably didn't play the prettiest tennis. I don't think he's overly happy with how he hit it, but he found a way to win."
Tomic’s victory not only took Team Australia to a significant position in the tie but improved his individual Davis Cup record to 5-1. The only defeat to his name in the Davis Cup encounters came last year in September when he
was outclassed by the Swiss Maestro, Roger Federer, in the World Group Playoffs.
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