Febi on substitute bench for Taiwan Davis Cup clash<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Tennis Association (Pelti) has
\npassed over Febi Widhiyanto as a starter for the Davis Cup Asia
\nOceania Group Two clash against Taiwan here next month.<\/p>\n
Pelti spokesman Benny Mailili said here on Thursday Suwandi
\nwill head the team, which also will feature Hendri Susilo Pranomo
\nas second singles player and the veteran doubles team of Bonit
\nWiryawan and Sulistyo Wibowo, with Feby serving as a reserve.<\/p>\n
Benny said Pelti preferred Hendri to Feby for the second
\nsingles based on their latest performances on the circuit.<\/p>\n
"Hendri fare better than Febi in their last few tournaments.
\nFor example, Hendri managed to reach the final in the Future-4
\ntennis tournament in Jakarta in July," he said.<\/p>\n
Hendri also made it to the quarterfinals in the second leg of
\nthe US$10,000 satellite tournament in Chiba, Japan, earlier this
\nmonth. It was a marked improvement from his second-round exit in
\nthe tournament's first leg.<\/p>\n
Febi, Hendri's clubmate, made a first-round exit in both legs,
\nwhile Suwandi won the first leg and went out in the second round
\nof the second leg.<\/p>\n
The choice of the Kemayoran Tennis Center as the venue for the
\nTaiwan clash was cited as another reason for Hendri's selection
\nto the national team's top flight.<\/p>\n
"Hendri performs better on the plexy-pave court than Febi,
\nbecause Hendri is a serve and volley type of player," Benny said.<\/p>\n
Febi last played second singles in Indonesia's 4-1 win over
\nthe Philippines in their Davis Cup encounter, which moved
\nIndonesia into next month's duel with Taiwan.<\/p>\n
Regarding Bonit and Sulistyo, Benny said Pelti took their vast
\nexperience into account when naming them to the team.<\/p>\n
"If we form a new partnership, we will faces difficulties in
\nwinning a point because they are not tested," he said.<\/p>\n
Taiwan has yet to announce its Davis Cup team for the October
\nencounter, but former Indonesian player Benny Wijaya looks
\ncertain to join the team.<\/p>\n
The Taiwanese head into the October match after beating
\nPakistan 3-2. The winner of the match will qualify for next
\nseason's Asia Oceania Group I.<\/p>\n
For Indonesia, a win will end its four years of waiting to
\nreturn to the continent's tennis premiership. Indonesia was
\nbitterly relegated to Group Two after a 5-0 drubbing by China in
\nthe 1996 Asia Oceania group one playoff.<\/p>\n
Indonesia twice came close to the elite World Group in the
\n1980s.<\/p>\n
In April last year, the Philippines dashed Indonesia's hopes
\nof rejoining the Asia Oceania Group I with a 4-1 win here.
\nThailand was eventually promoted to Group One after beating the
\nPhilippines. (ivy)<\/p>",
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