Stubbings lifts team with win over Tonga

 Papua New Guinea tennis player Matthew Stubbings has shown to neighbours Tonga what it takes to be playing on home soil by defeating its player 6-0, 6-2.

Stubbings was very handy in the first set of the men’s single challenge against the Tongan for the team event at the Steamship Racquet Club yesterday.

His win has elevated PNG to be a final qualifier in the men’s team event.

After the second day of team events, PNG is leading Samoa, Tonga, and Kiribati in the Group C with 2 points in a set of 12-1.

New Caledonia is leading Group A with 2 points in a set of 12-1 against Tahiti, Solomon Island and Tuvalu.

In Group B, Vanuatu is leading Fiji, American Samoa and Guam with 2 points in a set of 12-1.

There are 12 countries competing in the tennis competition in the Games tournament. 

For the women’s team event, the host nation is leading Vanuatu and Guam in Group A with 1 point in a set of 6-1.

New Caledonia is leading American Samoa and Solomon Islands in Group B with 1 point in a set of 4-3, while Tahiti is leading Tonga and Fiji in Group C with 2 points in a set of 9-5.

The women’s competition has nine countries.

A tennis official said the top three countries leading in each grous for both men’s and women’s teams, including a country that leads percentage are eligible for the final playoffs.

The official said after the playoffs, the top competing countries go into medal finals tomorrow.