PH Bows to Singapore in Fed Cup

The Philippines bowed to Singapore, 1-2, in their best-of-three tie of the Fed Cup Asia/Oceania Zone Group 2 competition at the Bahrain Tennis Federation hard courts.

The Philippines and Singapore are now 6-2 in their head-to-head record. Anna Clarice Patrimonio lost to Charmaine Shi Yi Seah, in the first singles, 3-6, 7-6 (2), 1-6; Filipino-German Katharina Lehnert fell to Stefanie Tan, 2-6, 2-6, in the second singles while Marian Jade Capadocia and Khim Iglupas prevailed over Lynelle En Tong Lim and Tammy Tan, 6-1, 6-1, in the doubles.

Stephanie Tan has won 19 matches (13 singles and six doubles) since joining the Fed Cup in 2007. She is currently No. 652 (singles) and No. 695 (doubles) in the world.

Stephanie is now 1-1 against Lehnert, who beat her 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the Group 2 play-off in Thailand two years ago.

Seah became a member of the Fed Cup team in 2016. She has played in 10 ties, winning six singles and two doubles matches.

The setback meant the Philippines will remain in Group 2 while Pool B winner Singapore will face Pacific Oceania in the promotional playoff semifinal to determine which teams will be promoted to Group 1 next year. Pacific Oceania, represented by Abigail Tere-Apisah, Carol Youngsuh Lee, and Steffie Carruthers, topped Pool C with victories over Iran (3-0), Oman (3-0), and Malaysia (3-0).

The other promotional playoff will feature Uzbekistan bannered by world’s No. 194 singles player Sabina Sharipova, and Indonesia led by Beatrice Gumulya, who is ranked No. 312 in the doubles.

Uzbekistan defeated New Zealand, (3-0) and Lebanon (3-0) in Pool A, while Indonesia downed Pakistan (3-0), Bahrain (3-0), and Sri Lanka (3-0).

Meanwhile, the Philippines will face Oman, and New Zealand will meet Pakistan in the playoff for fifth to eight places.

Lebanon will take on Sri Lanka and Malaysia will battle Kyrgyzstan for ninth to 12th places.

Iran, which lost to Pacific Oceania (0-3), Malaysia (0-3), and Oman (1-2), was ranked 13th.