Malaysia open Davis Cup campaign with 3-0 rout

Filepic of Malaysia's Mohd Assri Merzuki at the ATP250 Malaysian Open tennis tournament in KL in 2013.

PETALING JAYA: Top seeds Malaysia got their Davis Cup promotion bid off to a flying start in the Asia-Oceania Group III by thumping Qatar 3-0.

In the Pool A match at the National Tennis Centre in Jalan Duta on Wednesday, Ariez Elyaas Deen Heshaam gave Malaysia the lead by dispatching Jabor Mohammed Ali 6-2, 6-1.

Mohd Assri Merzuki put the result beyond doubt with a 1-6, 7-5, 6-1 win over Mousa Shanan in the second singles. Syed Mohd Agil Syed Naguib-Mohd Ashaari Zainal Abidin completed the rout by defeating Mubarak Al-Harrasi-Ali Al-Saygh 6-3, 7-6 (7-3) in the doubles.

Malaysia face Hong Kong, who whipped Saudi Arabia 3-0, on Thursday to decide the Pool A winners.  

In Pool B, second seeds Vietnam outclassed Turkmenistan 3-0 and Syria edged Cambodia 2-1.

The top two teams from each group will meet in the semi-finals.

The finalists will be promoted to Group II next year.