Davis Cup coach opts for junior to lead<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia is likely to pick the young Febi
\nWidhiyanto as first singles player in its Davis Cup Asia Oceania
\nzone playoff tennis match against Qatar in Doha next week.<\/p>\n
Coach Dedy Prasetyo told reporters on Monday that Febi, who
\nturns 19 on Feb. 9, deserved the spot because he was physically
\nthe fittest in the national team.<\/p>\n
Febi, Suwandi, Edy Kusdaryanto and Hendri Susilo Pramono
\nqualified for the Davis Cup outing in a national selection last
\nweek.<\/p>\n
\"Febi is in his best shape and we hope him to win his
\nmatches,\" Dedy said, adding that the second singles placement
\nshould go to Suwandi, who will make his comeback to the men's
\nteam competition after a poor showing throughout last year.<\/p>\n
Suwandi fared the best in last week's selection, winning four
\nmatches and losing once.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian team will fly to Doha on Sunday to compete in
\nthe Davis Cup match from Feb. 12 to Feb. 14.<\/p>\n
Host Qatar will likely feature Sultan Khalfan, Nasser Ghanem
\nAl-Kholaifi, Mohammad Ali Khalifa Al Saoud and Mubarak H. Al
\nTobaishi. They will be led by nonplaying captain Mohammad Salen
\nAl Kholaifi.<\/p>\n
Dedy said he was in the dark about the Arabian Gulf side.<\/p>\n
\"In the 800s, Sultan holds the highest ATP ranking, while the
\nrest of them are not even listed. Febi used to be rated 1056th
\nbut now he's out of the list,\" Dedy said.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's Davis Cup regular and the country's highest ranked
\nplayer Andrian Raturandang, also in the 800s, failed to qualify
\nafter winning just one of five matches he played the selection.<\/p>\n
Fellow Davis Cup veterans Bonit Wiryawan and Sulistyo Wibowo,
\ncurrently the country's best doubles team, also went out in the
\nnational selection, but Dedy will use them as sparring partners
\nfor the pairing of Hendri and Febi or Edy.<\/p>\n
Dedy said the partnership of Febi and Hendri would be the best
\nchoice for the doubles match. They are ranked second behind Bonit
\nand Sulistyo.<\/p>\n
\"If we are level at 1-1 in the first day, Febi will likely
\nplay doubles,\" the coach said. \"It's the perfect moment for us to
\ngive our juniors experience.\"<\/p>\n
Meanwhile Suwandi expressed his optimism that he could play
\nhis best in the Davis Cup tie.<\/p>\n
\"My personal target is to win. I'm really motivated to try my
\nbest,\" he said. \"I know I've been away for a year and I think
\nI'll be nervous on my return, but I'm sure I can overcome it.\"<\/p>\n
Nonplaying captain Tintus Ariwibowo said he believed Suwandi
\nwould not repeat his mistakes that cost Indonesia its Davis Cup
\ncampaigns in 1996 and 1997. (yan)<\/p>",
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