Indonesia leads NZ 2-0 in Davis Cup<\/p>\n
Zakki Hakim, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Indonesian tennis team pulled ahead leading 2-0 against
\nNew Zealand in the Asia-Oceania Group I playoff in the Davis Cup,
\nwhich was interrupted by rain, here on Friday.<\/p>\n
Febi Widhiyanto opened the host's campaign with a convincing
\n6-3, 6-2, 6-4 victory over Matthew Prentice.<\/p>\n
Prima Simpatiadji, the youngest team member, doubled
\nIndonesia's lead by upsetting Mark Nielsen 7-5, 6-7 (7\/9), 6-1,
\n6-1 in a match that saw the home hopeful pound a string of aces
\nthroughout.<\/p>\n
Non-playing captain Tintus Arianto Wibowo was delighted by the
\nwins, but warned the players against excessive excitement, given
\nthat their task was not yet ended with two days remaining in the
\nplayoff.<\/p>\n
The opposing teams will play a doubles match on Saturday
\nbefore reversing their singles on Sunday, and Tintus was adamant
\nabout not taking anything for granted.<\/p>\n
"We cannot afford to let up, as we do not want to fall victim
\nto a repeat of our experience against Japan," Tintus said.<\/p>\n
Indonesia lost 3-2 to Japan in February, a defeat that
\nrelegated it into a battle against New Zealand to retain a place
\nin the group.<\/p>\n
Indonesia was close to winning against Japan at a 2-2 decisive
\ntie, but Prima, who had lost his first match, squandered a two-
\nset lead to surrender to Gouichi Motomura.<\/p>\n
Prima won his first point for the home team on Friday.<\/p>\n
"I am grateful that I have won a point for Indonesia. This is
\nmy first win in the Davis Cup. It is very special," said the 22-
\nyear-old at a press conference.<\/p>\n
At the Bung Karno Tennis Open Stadium, Prima recovered from a
\nsecond set loss to take the remaining two sets in front of a
\ncheering crowd of home fans.<\/p>\n
The second set was interrupted by rain for about 45 minutes as
\nthe players entered the fourth game.<\/p>\n
After losing the first set, Nielsen looked to have regained
\nhis composure by then, extending the game to a tie-break that he
\nwon 9-7.<\/p>\n
Prima returned full force to dominate his opponent in the
\nremaining two sets, conceding only one game at each occasion.
\nToward the end, the Indonesian landed three aces unchallenged and
\nserved in the final game to victory.<\/p>\n
New Zealand's non-playing captain Bruce Derlin praised Prima,
\nsaying that he had played even better than Febi.<\/p>\n
Derlin said his team would now concentrate on trying to take
\nthe remaining matches.<\/p>\n
The visiting team is most likely to field young doubles pair
\nLee Radovanovich and William Ward as planned. They will be up
\nagainst Indonesian duo Suwandi and veteran Bonit Wiryawan on
\nSaturday.<\/p>\n
Bonit, who has been included on the team replacing injured
\nHendri Susilo Pramono, is twice the age of 18-year-old Ward.<\/p>",
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