-NSTP/SHAHRIL BADRI
KUALA LUMPUR: Any outside chance of earning promotion came to an end after Malaysia lost 3-0 to New Zealand in their Billie Jean King Cup Asia-Oceania Group II tie today.
Jade Otway put the Kiwis 1-0 up at the National Tennis Centre, Jalan Duta, after notching a straightforward 6-1, 6-1 win over Zenn Lim.
Big-serving Erin Routliffe was then given a scare by Shihomi Leong before closing out the match 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.
Routliffe, who is ranked No. 44 in the WTA doubles rankings, claimed the decisive break in the seventh game of the third set after a string of double faults from Shihomi, who had otherwise served solidly throughout the match.
Monique Barry-Vivian Yang completed New Zealand's win by downing Hannah Yip-Lim Zan Ning 6-2, 7-5.
Shihomi, 16, said she was still feeling the effects of the cramping she suffered during her match against Sri Lanka's Saajida Razick on Monday.
"I had my chances in the second set, but it ended up going to a decider. Then I lost my serve at 3-3. It is painful," said Shihomi.
"My opponent (Erin) is a great server, so there was pressure on me to my hold serve.
"My legs were also still bothering me. I felt tightness in my right calf and left quadricep, especially in the third set. Hopefully, it will be better tomorrow."
Team captain S. Selvarajoo decided to rest Shihomi during their tie against Indonesia yesterday, which the latter won 3-0.
Selvarajoo said the goal now is to avoid relegation from Group II.
"After this defeat, promotion is now out of the question," said Selvarajoo.
"Despite that, I am still proud of my players as they are all still very young. Shihomi is only 16, while Zenn is 17. All the senior players have retired.
"They were able to give players ranked on the WTA tour a run for their money.
"The goal now is to avoid being relegated and to achieve that we need to win at least one more tie against either Mongolia or Turkmenistan."
So far, Malaysia's 3-0 defeat of Sri Lanka is their only win in the tournament so far.
Malaysia will next play Mongolia tomorrow.
Mongolia have won all three of their ties so far against New Zealand (2-1), Sri Lanka (3-0) and Turkmenistan (3-0).
RESULTS:
Billie Jean King Cup Asia-Oceania Group II
Pool A: Taiwan 3 Guam 0, Hong Kong 3 Pakistan 0, Pacific Oceania 3 Singapore 0
Pool B: New Zealand 3 Malaysia 0, Mongolia 3 Turkmenistan 0, Indonesia 3 Sri Lanka 0