Febi targets junior Grand Slams<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): He is not Indonesia's number-one, but he could
\nbe the country's best hope after winning the boys singles at the
\n10th Indonesia Astra International Championship.<\/p>\n
The 282-ITF-ranked player always smiles during a match, even
\nif he's losing.<\/p>\n
His name is Febi Widhiyanto and he was born in Salatiga, a
\nsmall town about 60 kilometers south of Semarang, on Feb. 9,
\n1980.<\/p>\n
Febi, the only son of civil servant Djuhadi and Sri
\nMulyaningsih, started playing tennis when he was eight years old.
\nHe joined a small club in his hometown and was coached by
\nDjatmiko.<\/p>\n
"I used to want to be a top shuttler. But when I hurt the left
\nside of my back, I started to play tennis," Febi said.<\/p>\n
Febi now trains under Deddy Prasetyo at the Mercu Buana club,
\nowned by conglomerate Probosutedjo, in Yogyakarta.<\/p>\n
"In 1993, when I played at the Thamrin tournament in Senayan,
\nJakarta, I met Oom (uncle) Deddy. We just talked but after that I
\nwanted to be train under him," Febi told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
"I told my father that I wanted to be a tennis player. Then in
\nSeptember 1993 my father took me to Jakarta," he said.<\/p>\n
Febi, whose ITF doubles ranking is 84, won the Indonesia
\njunior circuit in Jakarta, Semarang, Surabaya and Denpasar last
\nyear, said he was ambitious and hopeful about his future.<\/p>\n
"I want to play in the junior Grand Slam series. But first I
\nhave to improve my ranking," he said.<\/p>\n
Only the ITF's top 50 can compete in the series.<\/p>\n
Unlike many players who want to train abroad, Febi -- who
\ntrained at the Nick Bollettieri camp in Florida for three months
\nin 1995 -- preferred to compete in tennis tours.<\/p>\n
"I think I prefer to play in many tournaments rather than
\nbeing coached in a tennis camp," he said.<\/p>\n
Febi said his parents and his three sisters supported him to
\ncontinue playing.<\/p>\n
"Besides I have quit school in Salatiga," he said.<\/p>\n
Febi is studying with a tutor at the club's dormitory with his
\nsix tennis mates.<\/p>\n
"I am registered as a student of Bina Daya Bangsa high school
\nin Sukoharjo, Surakarta. But I only go for final exams," he said,
\nlaughing.<\/p>\n
Febi said people told him to start meeting people.<\/p>\n
"How can I meet anybody if I spend my life playing tennis. I
\nonly stay at home during the holidays or weekends," said Febi,
\nwho claimed not to have a girlfriend. "I'm still focusing my
\nattention on tennis." (yan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/febi-targets-junior-grand-slams-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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