Nuggety New Zealand No 1 Mark Nielsen unleashed an inspiring but nerve-racking performance to clinch New Zealand's 3-2 Davis Cup tennis tie win over Indonesia in Invercargill yesterday.
Nielsen beat the higher world ranked Indonesian No 1 Suwandi 6-1 6-4 3-6 6-3 in the first reverse singles to seal the Asia-Oceania group one tie.
With the rubber decided, Dan Willman lost his best-of-three set singles to Peter Handoyo 7-5 6-3.
New Zealand's second round tie in the Asia Oceania zone is against India in April, at a venue in New Zealand to be confirmed next week.
Yesterday's match was Nielsen's third game in three days, after losing his opening singles but winning his doubles in four sets with Alistair Hunt on Saturday.
Nielsen was on fire from the outset yesterday, effortlessly powering his way through the first set. But a marathon fourth game in the second set became an energy-sapping and mentally draining battle of attrition which effectively decided the tie. The fourth game lasted 20 minutes, included 17 deuces and took more time than the entire first set.
Nielsen absorbed constant pressure from Suwandi's brilliant return of serve. Nielsen finally held serve and immediately broke Suwandi's serve to lead 3-2. The Indonesian, with a world ranking of 290, eventually lost the second set.
Nielsen lapsed in the third set but pulled off a series of magnificent passing shots and stepped up the pace in the fourth to take the match.
"That fourth game in the second set went on forever. Don't I know it. Those games win sets. He was tired and I broke him straight away," Nielsen said.
"If I had lost that game I probably would have lost the set."
It was the third time in five years that Nielsen has ground out a reverse single win to clinch a Davis Cup tie for his country.
New Zealand have not played India in Davis Cup since 1978 when Brian Fairlie, Onny Parun, Chris Lewis and Russell Simpson won 4-0. The New Zealand players will discuss the venue that would suit them best and make a suggestion to NZT.
- NZPA
Tennis: Nielsen's pressure win seals cup tie
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.