The short-handed Philippine Davis Cup felt the absence of its key players after losing in the first singles match at the start of its Asia Oceania Zone Group II tie against Thailand yesterday in Nonthaburi, Thailand.
PH team’s top junior player AJ Lim fell yielded to Wishaya Trongcharoenchaikul, 7-6 (2), 6-4, 6-3, as the Thais took a 1-0 lead in the three-day, best-of-five series.
Wishaya, who was nominated as Thailand’s No. 1 player, leaned on his powerful serves as the 22-year-old racked up 18 aces – including eight in the first set – to dictate the tempo for most parts of the match.