Christopher Rungkat led Indonesia to the last four of Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Group II after the team defeated host Hong Kong 3-2 at Victoria Park.

The country’s top player secured an unassailable 3-1 lead on Sunday afternoon with a 6-3, 7-6 (7), 6-2 win over Yu Hiu Tung, who replaced Jonathan Chu in the reverse singles match.

In the last match, which was changed to best of three sets instead of best of five because Indonesia had already secured the victory, Aditya Hari Sasongko fell 6-2, 6-3 to Hong Kong’s top player Nicholas Sayer.

Christopher won all three of his matches during the first-round tie. The 22-year-old beat Sayer 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 in Friday’s opener, but the teams ended the first day level at 1-1 after David Agung Susanto fell 6-3, 6-0, 6-4 to Chu.

Christopher took back the lead for Indonesia when he and David won 6-2, 6-2, 6-2 over Chu and Jack Hui in Saturday’s doubles match.

Indonesia will host regional rival Thailand in the second round, scheduled for April 6 to 8. Thailand edged Sri Lanka 3-2 in Colombo to clinch its second-round berth.

Indonesia is trying to secure promotion back to the Asia/Oceania Group I. It was relegated to Group II in 2005.

“I’m glad that the boys could overcame the cold to win in Hong Kong,” Kresno Merdiko, the Indonesian Lawn Tennis Association (Pelti) head of athletes’ development, said on Sunday.

“We have a poor record in the Davis Cup against Thailand, so that will likely be a tough encounter, though we’ll have home-court advantage. The players have to be prepared really well for the tie.”

Thailand has a 4-2 Davis Cup record against Indonesia, which has lost the last three meetings, including a 4-1 defeat in the 2005 Group I relegation playoff.

In the top half of the Group II draw, the Philippines routed Pacific Oceania 5-0 at home. It will face Pakistan or Lebanon in the next round.