At the Fed Cup by BNP Paribas Asia/Oceania Zone Group II in Shenzhen, Hong Kong opened its 2012 campaign with a handy 3-0 victory over 91st-ranked Sri Lanka. The territory will next face Pakistan on Wednesday in its second Pool A round robin tie.

Against the Sri Lankans earlier today, Venise Chan (WTA 534) gave Hong Kong the early lead when she defeated inexperienced Nilushi Fernando at number two singles, 6-1, 6-0.

At the one spot, Zhang Ling (WTA 220) overpowered Roshenka Fernando in straight sets, 6-0, 6-1, before Jessica Yang, and debutante Eudice Chong (ITF 786) combined to win the doubles easily against Thisuri Molligoda (ITF 1156) and Nilushi Fernando, 6-1, 6-0, to wrap up a 3-0 victory for the Hong Kong team.

Sri Lanka (0-2) is competing in the Fed Cup for the first time since 2008, and all of its players are making their Fed Cup debuts this week. In addition, its number one and three-time national champion, Amritha Muttiah, is also absent.

On Wednesday, Hong Kong (1-0) will take on Pakistan (1-1) who picked up its first win against Singapore today following a 3-0 setback against Kyrgyzstan (1-0) on Monday.

Without its leading player Stephanie Tan (WTA 1063), Singapore lost 2-1 against Pakistan.

Besides Zhang Ling and Venise Chan, Kyrgyzstan's Bermet Duvanaeva (WTA 538) is the only other player with a WTA Ranking in Pool A.

Meanwhile, in Pool B, India (2-0) has rested Sania Mirza for the second day in a row and started 15-year-old Rutuja Bhosale (WTA 789) in singles instead.

The junior world No. 67 did not disappoint, as she came from a set down to beat the vastly more experienced Fatma Al Nabhani (WTA 556), 1-6, 7-5, 6-4, to seal the tie-clinching point against Oman.

Although Philippines is the seeded team, none of its players hold a professional ranking. Moreover, three of them – Tamitha Nguyen (ITF 229), Maika Tanpoco (ITF 328), and Marian Jade Capadocia (ITF 433) - are juniors who have yet to crack the top-200.

After beating Iran, 3-0, to notch its opening win today, Philippines (1-0) is currently in second place behind India (2-0) at the top of the Pool B table.

The round robins will continue on Wednesday as teams are bidding to reach Saturday's promotion playoff, which will see the two group winners go head-to-head for a place in Asia/Oceania Zone Group I in 2013.

The official opening ceremony, in addition to Group I action, gets under way at the same venue simultaneously on Wednesday.


Results
Fed Cup by BNP Paribas
Asia/Oceania Zone Group II
Luohu Tennis Center, Shenzhen
Jan 30-Feb 4, 2012

Pool A (Round Robins)

Day Two
HONG KONG defeated SRI LANKA 3-0
R-1 Venise Chan (HKG) d. Nilushi Fernando (SRI) 6-1 6-0
R-2 Zhang Ling (HKG) d. Roshenka Fernando (SRI) 6-0 6-1
R-3 Yang Zijun/Eudice Chong (HKG) d. Thisuri Molligoda/Nilushi Fernando (SRI) 6-1 6-0