Indonesia takes commanding 2-0 lead over Lebanon<\/p>\n
Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Surabaya, East Java<\/p>\n
Indonesia took a commanding 2-0 lead over Lebanon on the
\nopening day of their Davis Cup playoff, after Suwandi and Febi
\nWidhiyanto won their respective first singles matches at the
\nEmbong Sawo Tennis Court in Surabaya, East Java, on Friday.<\/p>\n
Playing in Group One of the Asia-Oceania zone, the Indonesians
\noverpowered the visitors as both players won in straight sets.<\/p>\n
Indonesia is now just one match away from winning the tie.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian doubles partnership of Hendri Susilo Pramono
\nand Bonit Wiryawan is expected to wrap up the tie later on
\nSaturday as they take advantage of a tiring Ali Hamadeh and
\nPatrick Chucri, who both played in Friday's singles matches.<\/p>\n
\"We'd like to kill them off with a 3-0 victory while there is
\na chance,\" non-playing captain Tintus Arianto Wibowo said in a
\npost-match media conference.<\/p>\n
Suwandi, 26, opened the contest on Friday afternoon with a 6-
\n2, 6-2, 6-4 win over 21-year-old Patrick Chucri, while later on
\nFebi drubbed Ali Hamadeh 6-4, 6-1, 6-0.<\/p>\n
Despite what proved to be relatively easy wins against the two
\nunranked Lebanese players on the first day of the tie, the 1,000
\nIndonesian supporters who packed the stadium were left briefly
\nanxious in the first match as Chucri mounted a spirited comeback
\nagainst Suwandi.<\/p>\n
After losing the first two sets, the American-based player
\nmounted a mini comeback as he raced to a 4-1 lead in the third
\nset.<\/p>\n
Suwandi, ranked 292, seemed at a loss at his opponents sudden
\nsurge in form. His returns repeatedly found the net.<\/p>\n
Chucri pounded forward with his fast serves and lethal
\nbackhand slices, leaving Suwandi flatfooted.<\/p>\n
But slowly the Indonesian was able to hold on and got back
\ninto the match with several sharp volleys on the fast hardcourt.<\/p>\n
Chucri also seemed to suffer from the heat and humidity.<\/p>\n
The critical juncture came after losing two straight games
\nwith the score at 4-3.<\/p>\n
Chucri received treatment from his coach for about five
\nminutes. He later admitted that he had difficulty in dealing with
\nthe heat: \"In America, I'm used to playing in a cooler climate\".<\/p>\n
The lead Lebanese singles player also seemed to be
\nincreasingly bothered by his feet, as Suwandi continued to surge
\nforward and level the score.<\/p>\n
Suwandi later conceded that, \"after winning the first two sets
\neasily, I somehow loosened my game. I was in a bit of a slump\".<\/p>\n
At the end of the match, Chucri fell in agony, not only due to
\nlosing the match but apparently in pain as he clutched his left
\nknee.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesia-takes-commanding-2-0-lead-over-lebanon-1447893297",
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