Benny to lead RI's Davis Cup team<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): National top men's singles Benny Wijaya looks
\ndestined to lead the Indonesian tennis squad in its Davis Cup
\nWorld Group qualifying round matches against giant Switzerland
\nhere on Sept, 23-25.<\/p>\n
\"There will be no major changes in our team's lineup,\" Eddy
\nKatimansah, secretary general of the Indonesian Tennis
\nAssociation (Pelti), told The Jakarta Post yesterday.<\/p>\n
Benny, national number two Suwandi and doubles specialists
\nBonit Wiryawan and Donny Susetyo formed a winning team in their
\nAsia- Oceania Group II against South Korea here last May. Donny,
\nhowever, was benched during Indonesia's 3-2 victory.<\/p>\n
Eddy hinted that a modification could only happen in the
\ndoubles lineup. \"We will pick those who are physically and
\nmentally ready to fight,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Bonit is currently Indonesia's best doubles player who is able
\nto team up with either Benny or Donny. Sulistyo Wibowo may be
\nBonit's other choice of partner.<\/p>\n
Eddy said the final team lineup will be announced by Monday
\nafter its plenary meeting. He added that some Pelti top officials
\nare still abroad and due to come back this weekend.<\/p>\n
The five-tie matches will be played on the clay court of
\nSenayan tennis stadium, which used to be the venue for Davis Cup
\nmatches when hosted by Indonesia. The slow surface of the court
\nhas so far been the graveyard of South Korea in its four Davis
\nCup tours.<\/p>\n
Eddy denied speculations that the Davis Cup tier will be
\nstaged at the US$3.8 million newly dedicated tennis complex at
\nKemayoran, Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"We will inform both the International Tennis Federation (ITF)
\nand the visiting team about the venue by Aug. 1,\" Eddy said.<\/p>\n
Eddy, however, admitted Indonesia will be the underdog team,
\ndespite the fanatic crowds and the hot climate. Switzerland, the
\n1992 losing finalist to the United States, is likely to field its
\nworld number 19 Marc Rosset and number 45 Jakob Hlasek. Benny,
\nwho tops the national rankings, is rated below 200 in the world.<\/p>\n
\"But we will battle it out,\" Eddy vowed.<\/p>\n
World Group<\/p>\n
Winner of the three-day matches will secure a place in the
\nWorld Group which fields 16 of the world best tennis playing
\ncountries.<\/p>\n
Indonesia entered the prestigious group twice in 1982 and 1988
\nby edging South Korea at home, both with 3-2 victories.<\/p>\n
Eddy also said that an envoy of the ITF, Thomas Hollberg, will
\nbe in attendance at the Indonesia-Switzerland Davis Cup tie.<\/p>\n
Hollberg, ITF's director of men's tennis, has decided to come
\nhere, following reports on the disruptive home crowd who marred
\nthe recent matches pitting Indonesia and South Korea, Eddy said.
\n(amd)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/benny-to-lead-ris-davis-cup-team-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}