After topping Pool A in the round robins undefeated, Hong Kong is set to face Sania Mirza's India in Saturday's promotion playoff. At stake is a place in Asia/Oceania Zone Group I in 2013.

The last time Hong Kong faced India was 2008 when Sania Mirza partnered Sunita Rao to beat Zhang Ling and Jessica Yang, 7-6(6), 6-2, in the deciding doubles of the Group I relegation playoff.

The territory has remained in Group II ever since that defeat.

On Friday, India's 15 year-old sensation Rutuja Bhosale easily dispatched Philippines' Tamitha Nguyen 62 63 in Pool B of the Fed Cup by BNP Paribas Asia/Oceania Zone Group II event on Friday. The child prodigy and tennis hope of a nation paced India's 3-0 sweep and its relentless march into tomorrow’s finals against Hong Kong, China here at the Luohu Tennis Club.

Bhosale, who was quite literally dropped onto the doorstep of the India National Team two years ago, has risen out of the hotly contested youth tournament circuit in New Delhi and has energized the India women’s tennis programme like no one since the great Sania Mirza. Bhosale was truly on her game in Friday’s brisk morning air and never trailed.

Coupled with a win from singles teammate Prena Bhambri, who fought off the Philippines' Anna Clarice Patrimonio, 6-3, 4-6, 6-1, and yet another straight set doubles win with Mirza and Iska Lakhani defeating Nguyen and Patrimonio, 6-0, 6-1, India seemed more than ready to take on Hong Kong in Saturday’s finals.

With the hills of Hong Kong looming in the distance, Hong Kong's Venise Chan easily handled Kyrgyzstan's Inna Volkovich, 6-0, 6-0, but was stymied in the second rubber with Bermet Duvanaeva of Kyrgyzstan upending Hong Kong's Zhang Ling, 6-3, 4-6, 6-1.

It all came down to the doubles to determine who would face India in the promotion play-off on Saturday, with Hong Kong's Zhang and teammate Yang Zijun combining for a 60 minute, 6-1, 6-1, blowout of Duvanaeva and Volkovich.

In other competition on Friday, Sri Lanka defeated Pakistan 2-1 and Turkmenistan swept Iran 3-0.

Pool standings In the final round-robin pool standings, Hong Kong topped Pool A with a record of 11-1 in matches, 23-2 in sets and 143-26 in games.

Meanwhile, India topped Pool B with a record of 11-1 in matches, 23-2 in sets and 146-45 in games.

Also on Saturday, Kyrgyzstan will face Philippines, Oman versus Pakistan, Sri Lanka against Iran and Singapore challenging Turkmenistan.


Source: www.fedcup.com

ITF Fed Cup Nations Ranking



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


Day Three
HONG KONG defeated PAKISTAN 3-0
R-1 Venise Chan (HKG) d. Ushna Suhail (PAK) 6-1 6-2
R-2 Zhang Ling (HKG) d. Saba Aziz (PAK) 6-0 6-0
R-3 Zhang Ling/Yang Zijun (HKG) d. Ushna Suhail/Sara Mansoor (PAK) 6-1 6-1


Day Four
HONG KONG defeated SINGAPORE 3-0
R-1 Venise Chan (HKG) d. Hannah Chew (SIN) 6-0 6-0
R-2 Zhang Ling (HKG) d. Geraldine Ang (SIN) 6-0 6-0
R-3 Yang Zijun/Eudice Chong (HKG) d. Rehmat Johal/Olivia Koh (SIN) 6-1 6-0


Day Five
HONG KONG defeated KYRGYZSTAN 2-1
R-1 Venise Chan (HKG) d. Inna Volkovic (KGZ) 6-0 6-0
R-2 Bermet Duvanaeva (KGZ) d. Zhang Ling (HKG) 6-3 4-6 6-1
R-3 Zhang Ling/Yang Zijun (HKG) d. Bermet Duvanaeva/Inna Volkovic (KGZ) 6-1 6-1