Australia will take a commanding 2-0 lead over Chinese Taipei into the second day of their Davis Cup tie after singles victories by Matthew Ebden and countryman Lleyton Hewitt.
Ebden played the second singles rubber against Ti Chen from Chinese Taipei, needing to fend off some third set swinging from his opponent before prevailing in a straight sets triumph 6-3 6-4 7-5.
Hewitt had earlier given Australia a 1-0 edge in the Asia-Oceania zonal match in Kaohsiung when he overpowered Chinese Taipei’s No.2 player Tsung-Hua Yang 6-4 6-4 6-4.
Hewitt will team with Chris Guccione in the doubles rubber, hoping to wrap up the match on Saturday. Ebden should play in the reverse singles on Sunday.
Australian captain Pat Rafter said he believed the Australians were always in control on the opening day.
“Our guys dealt with the situation a lot better than the Taiwanese boys. They were a fraction tight” Rafter said.
“Matty played really solidly and put up a good fight in the third set. If that had gone to four sets it would have been interesting to see how it unfolded.”
Rafter said he was delighted with the way Ebden handled the third-set fight back from Chen who had taken a 4-2 lead before the Australian regained momentum.
“He was upbeat and it was good to see him express some really positive emotions out there,” he said.
“He’s learning all the time and I think he played the big points really well today.”
Ebden said he was confident that if he remained patient and positive he would outlast Chen’s comeback.
“In the third set he came out swinging, he was just super loose, hitting all the lines but I knew if I hung tough and held my serve I’d get a chance to break,” Ebden said.
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