Britain heading for defeat against Ukraine
Britain heading for defeat against Ukraine
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Friday, 06, Mar 2009 10:23
Great Britain trail Ukraine 2-0 in their Davis Cup tie after Chris Eaton lost 3-6 6-3 3-6 4-6 to Sergiy Stakhovsky in the second singles tie.
The British number seven lost in four sets meaning his side have to win all the remaining rubbers to win the tie.
Earlier, Josh Goodall lost 6-7 (2/7) 6-7 (5/7) 6-7(5/7) to Illya Marchenko.
Ross Hutchins and Colin Fleming will try to keep the tie alive for Britain in Saturday's doubles match.
But they will have to improve on their displays on day one in Glasgow.
Eaton made a nightmare start and lost his opening service game to trail 3-0, before losing the first set.
But the 21-year-old fought back in the next set after breaking Stakhovsky's first service game before serving out to level.
Eaton matched the Ukrainian in the third set until he was broken in game eight to lose the set. The Surrey-born player was broken again in the fourth before Stakhovsky repeated the trick in the tenth to clinch victory.
Captain John Lloyd admits it was "a long way" back for his team.
"We would have been happy with 1-1 going into the doubles, but it's not to be. I've got to give their players credit - they played the big points very well," he said.
"Stakhovsky's been around a lot; he's got a lot of class about him. Marchenko's not very experienced and I thought he played the big points superbly well today.
"I know we're down 2-0 and everyone's disappointed but I must say that both the boys were a pleasure to sit on the court with and they both embraced the occasion.
"I didn't enjoy the result but I did enjoy the experience, if you can understand that."