Concerned Philippines wants venue for Davis Cup moved<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Philippines, citing security concerns, has
\nrequested the International Tennis Federation (ITF) move its
\nDavis Cup Asia Oceania Group Two match against Indonesia in April
\nfrom Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Deputy secretary-general of the Indonesian Tennis Association
\n(Pelti) Benny Mailili said on Tuesday the Philippines Lawn Tennis
\nAssociation asked the ITF to name Manila or a city in a neutral
\ncountry as the site of the second-round tie, scheduled for April
\n2 to April 4.<\/p>\n
\"The Philippines' concern is understandable and it could
\nbecome a realistic reason to move the site of the match. But we
\nwill wait for the ITF's decision,\" Benny said.<\/p>\n
\"If the ITF decides to meet the Philippines' demand, we would
\nprefer a neutral country.\" He did not name countries to
\nIndonesia's liking.<\/p>\n
Riots and unrest have plagued the country as it lurches toward
\ndemocracy after the fall of the New Order regime last May.<\/p>\n
Benny said the Philippines should not have played up the
\nsecurity concerns.<\/p>\n
\"We have told the ITF we will fully guarantee the Philippine
\nteam's safety from their arrival until their departure for home.\"<\/p>\n
Benny said Pelti would ask the police to maintain order during
\nmatches to be held at the Senayan tennis complex. Police have
\nalso been asked to safeguard the Baskin Robbins Junior
\nInternational tennis championships here next month.<\/p>\n
Indonesia originally opted for the Kemayoran tennis court's
\nplexi-pave surface, but switched to Senayan after discovering the
\nFilipinos were not used to the rebound-ace surface.<\/p>\n
\"The fact that the Philippines doesn't have rebound-ace courts
\nis to our advantage. Besides, our players have trained on this
\ntype of court during their preparations for the first-round match
\nagainst Qatar earlier this month,\" Benny said.<\/p>\n
In the Asia Oceania region, Australia and Indonesia are the
\nonly countries with the modification of hard courts.<\/p>\n
Pelti has announced it will maintain the team of Suwandi, Febi
\nWidhiyanto, Edy Kusdaryanto and Hendri Susilo Pramono, who
\noverpowered Qatar 5-0 in Doha in the first round.<\/p>\n
They will likely meet Joseph Lizardo, Bryan Juinio and Michael
\nMisa, who beat Chinese Taipei 3-2 in the first round.<\/p>\n
Winner of the April match will join the zone's Group One
\ncompetition next season. Indonesia was relegated from the Group
\nOne last year after losing to Lebanon.<\/p>\n
Benny was concerned the Philippines would recruit Cecil
\nMammit, world ranked in the 200s, who holds dual U.S. and
\nPhilippine citizenship.<\/p>\n
The former top U.S. collegiate player upset Michael Chang last
\nweek on his way to the final of the US$815,000 Sybase Open. (yan)<\/p>",
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