News
The article is more than 15 years old

Rising Star Kontinen Leads Tennis Team to New Heights

Finland's five-member men's tennis team has moved into the Davis Cup's top division after downing Cyprus 3-2.

Henri Kontinen lyö palloa.
Image: YLE / Minna Rosvall

The win came in a three-day Davis Cup event in Salo, south-west Finland that wrapped up Sunday afternoon.

The doubles team of Henri Kontinen and Jarkko Nieminen defeated Marcos Baghdatis and Photos Kallias of Cyprus on Sunday.

Nieminen won his singles match against Kallias in straight sets on Saturday, but lost to Baghdatis on Sunday afternoon.

Baghdatis is a former world number eight, who is fighting his way back after a series of injuries. He is now ranked 103rd.

Nieminen's best ranking ever was 13th. Now recovering from wrist surgery, he is listed as 62nd.

The 19-year-old Kontinen also beat Kallias in straight sets later Sunday.

His win raises Finland into the Group I in the Europe/Africa Zone of the Davis Cup for next year.

Sources: YLE