The Dominican Republic Davis Cup team had defeated Chile 4-1 by Sunday, 15 September and advances to play in the World Group play-offs. The last time the two countries met, Chile won 5-0. The DR is ranked 44th, Chile is 28th.
Playing the Americas Zone Group I relegation play-off, the Dominican team of Victor Estrella, Jose Hernandez, Roberto Cid had their best performance ever in the Davis Cup. The only game Chile was able to win was between Christian Garin and Peter Bertran. Garin defeated Bertran in a very tight 5-7, 5-7 match. Roberto Cid defeated Nicolas Jarry 6-4, 2-2 when Jarry abandoned the court due to the extreme heat. Jose Hernandez defeated Paul Capdeville 6-4, 7-6, 7-5, and Victor Estrella defeated Christian Garin 7-5, 6-2, 6-4. In the doubles, Victor Estrella and Jose Hernandez won the match against Jorge Aguilar and Nicolas Jarry, 7-6, 6-4, 6-4 of Chile.
Hernandez told the press that he could hardly believe the achievement of winning three consecutives games against Chile. Victor Estrella said that the performance represented a big step forward for Dominican tennis.
Tennis Federation President Persio Maldonado said that the Dominican team will now stay in Group I and will prepare to compete for a place in the World Group next year.
Sergio Tobal, director of the Davis Cup and vice president of the Dominican Tennis Federation, said that the victories mean that not only does the DR continue to compete in the Davis Cup but it also reaped 320 points in the ranking by countries, and will move up to its best position in history. The DR is currently ranked 44th. The best the Dominican Republic has done in the ranking is 39th. Chile is ranked 28th.
Tobal announced that the first round of the Group I would be played in the DR in February 2014. The possible players are Uruguay, Ecuador, Venezuela or El Salvador, as reported in Listin Diario.
www.daviscup.com/en/draws-results/group-i/americas.aspx