Indonesia hopes to draw Austria playoffs<\/p>\n
Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Federation Cup team, which is still savoring its
\nsuccessful Japan tour, seems to fancy the prospect of meeting
\nAustria in the World Group playoffs this July.<\/p>\n
Indonesia and Japan lived up to their statuses as the second
\nand top seeds, respectively, to secure berths in the World Group
\nplayoffs after finishing in the top two during the Group One
\nAsia-Oceania qualifying matches in Tokyo last week.<\/p>\n
Also qualifying for the playoffs are Brazil, Canada, Hungary,
\nIsrael, South Africa and Switzerland, after winning their
\nrespective regional qualifying groups.<\/p>\n
The eight qualifiers will be pitted against another eight,
\nthose teams who lost their first-round matches in the World
\nGroup. The opposing teams are Argentina, Australia, Austria,
\nColombia, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Germany and Sweden.<\/p>\n
The draw to set the matches will take place at the
\nInternational Tennis Federation (ITF) office in Roehampton,
\nLondon, on Thursday, according to fedcup.com.<\/p>\n
Given that, in 2001, Indonesia had an away match with Austria,
\nteam captain Suzanna Anggarkusuma said that they wished for
\nanother match so that Indonesia could be host this time.<\/p>\n
"Yes, I prefer to be drawn against Austria because most likely
\nwe'll play it here after our matches in 2001," Suzanna said
\nduring a media conference on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Indonesia, then spearheaded by Yayuk Basuki, lost to Austria
\n2-3 in 2001.<\/p>\n
"If we are to play Austria, then we can choose a playing court
\nof our preference. I think the players would like hardcourts,"
\nshe said, accompanied by team members at the media conference.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian team comprises Angelique Widjaja (world No.
\n63), Wynne Adiati Prakusya (No. 115) and junior player Sandy
\nGumulya.<\/p>\n
"Sweden could be another team we'd like to meet. They should
\nnot be as tough as the others," Suzanna said.<\/p>\n
Austria, which consists of Evelyn Fauth, Patricia Wartusch, S.
\nBammer and E. Meusberger, was relegated to the playoffs after
\nbeing swept 0-5 by Belgium, which has on its team world No. 2 Kim
\nClijsters and No.-4 Justine Henin-Hardenne.<\/p>\n
During Tuesday's conference, the Indonesian Tennis Association
\n(Pelti) handed over bonuses to both players and coaches,
\npresented by Chairwoman Martina Wijaya.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, in the Junior Davis Cup competition now underway at
\nthe Senayan Tennis Courts, top seed Indonesia will play its first
\nmatch on Wednesday against Hong Kong.<\/p>\n
Wahyu Sunu Trijati, the team's ace, said that they would try
\nto win the Group One, which includes New Zealand, to avoid a
\nlikely opposition with second-seed India in the next stage.<\/p>\n
India, which is grouped with Uzbekistan and Pakistan, had an
\noff-day on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
In Tuesday's matches, Hong Kong beat New Zealand 2-1. Other
\nteams chalking up their wins included Thailand, Chinese Taipei,
\nUzbekistan, South Korea and Sri Lanka.<\/p>",
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