After successive defeats by Lebanon and Qatar, the Cambodian Davis Cup team are steeling themselves for positive results in their next two pool games against Singapore and Syria, followed by the crucial playoff that will ultimately decide their fate in the Asia-Oceania Group III cycle that has reached the midway stage in Tehran.

On a rest day for reflection, non-playing captain Tep Rithivit told his team members to show the kind of resilience they have displayed in the past to deal with the challenges Davis Cup campaigns throw up. “I have faith in the ability of both Tan Nysan and Bun Kenny to get us on the right track,” Rithivit told the Post yesterday

“It was an emotional day after we lost to Qatar. Two losses in two days is not something you wish upon yourself or your players, but I believe the best thing to do is to keep the pressure on ourselves – after all, we are playing for survival now.’’

The day off was welcomed. Our players went through intense practice in the morning and rested in the afternoon to be ready to resume our fight,” added Rithivit, the secretary-general of Tennis Cambodia.

While past performances point to Cambodia’s superiority over Singapore, the tie against Syria could be a tough one as Cambodia went down 1-2 in their previous meeting last year.

But both Tep Rithivit and national coach Braen Aneiros insist that no matter what the final standing in the pool, it is imperative to win the playoff to secure the Group III status the Kingdom has enjoyed since gaining promotion from Group IV in 2012.