Andrian to play 2nd singles in Davis Cup<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Andrian Raturandang will play as the second
\nsingles in place of Hendri Susilo Pramono in the Davis Cup Group
\nI Asia Oceania zone tie against Uzbekistan from Feb. 9 to Feb.
\n11.<\/p>\n
The secretary-general of the Indonesian Tennis Association
\n(Pelti), Soegeng Sarjadi, said during a media conference on
\nMonday that besides Andrian, the association also has called on
\nYusmawan Fahmi, Sebastian Da Costa and Suhendar Dinata to serve
\nas substitutes.<\/p>\n
Indonesia expects to earn points from Suwandi in the opening
\nmatch on Friday at the Kemayoran tennis center in Central
\nJakarta, and in the first doubles match on Saturday.<\/p>\n
"We are expecting the players to play all out. We are also
\nhoping for miracles."<\/p>\n
Hendri withdrew from the team only a week before the tie is
\nscheduled to begin, citing the poor treatment he received from
\nPelti's official in charge of athlete development, Sudjiono
\nTiman.<\/p>\n
Pelti then approached Febi Widhiyanto, as well as Andrian and
\nSuhendar, to join the team, but the 20-year-old Febi, who is
\nHendri's best friend, turned down the offer. He said he was
\nunprepared to play on the plexi-pave surface.<\/p>\n
Soegeng said Hendri's withdrawal would not affect the spirit
\nand desire of the team. "Hendri's resignation has no effect on
\nthe other team members."<\/p>\n
But he said Pelti deeply regretted Hendri and Febi's decision,
\nwhich he said were purely emotional.<\/p>\n
"We have been preparing for the Davis Cup tie for some time
\nand no other team members got as much support from Pelti as
\nHendri and Febi. We supported them so they could compete in the
\nUnited States, New Zealand, Australia, Japan and India.<\/p>\n
"As a parent to all the players, Pelti cares about their
\nfutures. The players and Pelti officials should build a unified
\nvision. To be a champion, a player must have a vision."<\/p>\n
Soegeng also said Pelti had done its best to help Hendri and
\nFebi improve their world rankings. "I am afraid most people will
\nnot be sympathetic toward the two players."<\/p>\n
Pelti's official in charge of competition, Soebronto Laras,
\nwho also attended the media conference, said the association
\nwould wait for Hendri and Febi to change their attitudes before
\ngiving them a second chance to join the national squad.<\/p>\n
"Tennis is an individual sport and we have formed a good team
\nto fight in the Davis Cup and Southeast Asian Games. We may
\nconsider the players as betraying their commitment, but we do not
\nwant to disgrace them.<\/p>\n
"So we will see what kind of attitude and motivation they have
\nbefore inviting them to join the national team."<\/p>\n
In the Davis Cup tie, Indonesia will field top national player
\nSuwandi as the first singles and veteran doubles players Bonit
\nWiryawan and Sulistyo Wibowo.<\/p>\n
"We do not just subjectively pick the team members. Suwandi is
\nranked in the 400s in the world and has the highest ATP singles
\nranking of our players, while Andrian is ranked 1,092 and Bonit
\n1,023. But Bonit and Sulistyo do not have an ATP ranking as a
\ndoubles team," Soegeng said.<\/p>\n
The Uzbekistan team will comprise Oleg Ogorodov, Vadim
\nKutsenko, Dmitriy Tomashevich and Dmitry Mazur. (ivy)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/andrian-to-play-2nd-singles-in-davis-cup-1447893297",
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