YOUTH players are in line to take over the reins in the Hong Kong Davis Cup team after teenagers Melvin Tong and Thorsten Poelzl salvaged some pride for the territory by winning their singles matches.
Hong Kong faced Indonesia in an Asia-Oceania Zone Group One first round tie at the Victoria Park, and the two 19-year-olds were given a chance to play after the visitors had taken an unassailable 3-0 lead.
Nevertheless, Melvin and Thorsten gave it their best shot in the dead rubbers and took advantage of the Indonesians' half-hearted attitude to score straight sets victories.
Melvin played Indonesian No 1 Benny Wijaya, who is ranked 290th in the world, and surprisingly emerged a 6-4, 6-2 victor to the delight of the partisan Sunday afternoon crowd.
And Thorsten made it a day to remember for the Hong Kong supporters by beating SEA Games champion Suwandi 6-4, 6-1 in the final rubber.
Wijaya and Suwandi paved the way to Indonesia's triumph by defeating Michael Walker and Colin Grant, respectively in the first two singles matches. Suwandi and Bonit Wiryawan downed Walker and Thorsten in doubles to wrap up the tie.