‘Leong’s ATP ranking a boost to Pacific Oceania Davis Cup players’

Former Davis Cup non-playing captain Jeff Race of the CNMI is ecstatic over Pacific Oceania’s chances in next year’s Asia-Oceania Davis Cup Group III tie following Michael Leong’s recent achievement.

Leong, who was part of the Islanders’ roster in this year’s Davis Cup and is expected to make the team again next year, became the first Pacific Oceania player to gain professional rankings. The Solomon Islands netter is now ranked No. 1,338 after playing in various tournaments in the ITF Men’s Pro Circuit this year.

“It was a long deserved achievement for Mikee, who had to travel from one continent to another in three months to get ATP ranking points. I know he has been working hard to get those points,” said Race, who coached Leong in Davis Cup for four years before Cyrille Mainguy took over the coaching post early this year.

“And Mikee getting ATP ranking points means good news for our Davis Cup team as this will boost Mikee and his teammates confidence when they play in Group III next year,” Race said.

The CNMI coach added he is hoping the Islanders will return to Group II.

Pacific Oceania, who had been in Group II from 2005 to 2007, was relegated to Group III after losing to Qatar last April, 2-3. The Islanders dropped their first round match against Kuwait, 1-4.

Pacific Oceania’s foe next year has yet to be drawn. But Group III is composed of Syria, Iran, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Singapore, and Saudi Arabia.

Leong gave the Islanders their two wins against Qatar and took a few weeks break before launching his bid for ATP ranking points.

His first stop was Perth, Australia, joining two tournaments Down Under. He prevailed in two matches in the qualifying tournaments, but failed to make the main draw.

Leong then went to Colombia where he also could not gain entry to the main draw.

On his third trip, this time in Europe, Leong was admitted to the main draw in a Romania event. He also joined the main draw in a tournament in Ukraine.

But the ATP ranking points remained elusive for Leong, as he did not win any match in the main draw in the European tournaments.

ATP ranking points are only awarded after one wins a main draw match. To make it to the main draw, one has to gain three qualifying wins.

From Europe, Leong traveled to Asia and finally earned points when he defeated Nigerian Candy Idoko, 7-6 (5), 6-4, in a tournament in Iran.

From Iran, he went to Azerbaijan, made the main draw and won two matches there before bowing to Russia’s Mikkai Vasiliew, 6-7 (8), 7-5, 6-1, in the quarterfinals.

Leong gained two more points from tournaments in Georgia and Egypt before returning home with five ATP points.