Indonesian tennis players lack foreign experience<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The lack of international experience is to blame
\nfor the failure of the country's tennis talents to reach the
\nhighest level, chairman of the Indonesian Tennis Association
\nSarwono Kusumaatmadja claims.<\/p>\n
Sarwono said, during a breaking the fast meal yesterday, that
\nnational players always perform commendably when in the junior
\nranks, but when they turn 16, they fail to keep up with their
\nforeign rivals.<\/p>\n
\"We are able only to produce good junior players in most
\nsports, including tennis,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"Foreign coaches acknowledge what we have done well with the
\njuniors, but they then fall away,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Sarwono said that coaches only teach the juniors how to play
\ngood tennis. \"That is not enough. They need to know how to
\ncompete in international tournaments.\"<\/p>\n
Sarwono said that Mark Philippoussis of Australia is an ideal
\nexample of a player who quickly leaped to the world's elite. \"He
\nwas among the participants in satellite tournaments here a few
\nyears ago, but he is now a world-beating player,\" Sarwono said.<\/p>\n
Philippoussis reached his first Grand Slam quarterfinal in the
\nAustralian Open last month by toppling then world number one Pete
\nSampras.<\/p>\n
Sarwono said the association has been criticized for fielding
\nyoung players in the Davis Cup Asia\/Oceania qualifying tie
\nagainst South Korea this week.<\/p>\n
\"The reason is that we don't have many options but to field
\nthose youngsters,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Sarwono said that he would not be surprised if the South
\nKoreans win the tie.<\/p>\n
\"They are much better than the Indonesian players,\" he said.
\n\"But remember, our players have an obligation to win.\"<\/p>\n
Sarwono said that the home fans will serve as a big morale
\nboost to the Indonesian team.<\/p>\n
Secretary general of the association, Zainal Abidin, said that
\na businessman, who requested anonymity, had bought 1,000 through
\ntickets, which costs Rp 10,000 (US$4.4) each.<\/p>\n
Zainal, who is also the tournament director, said
\nMinister\/State Secretary Moerdiono also bought 100 daily tickets,
\nwhich costs Rp 5,000 each, for students.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile Indonesian coach Deddy Prasetyo said that he
\nexpected his players to keep their composure during the three-day
\nmatch.<\/p>\n
\"I told them to keep relaxed while they are fighting to win
\nthe tie,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Deddy said he relied on his first singles Suwandi to give
\nIndonesia a morale boosting win on the opening day on Friday. \"We
\nshould be at least 1-1 on the first day.\"<\/p>\n
Members of the Indonesian Davis Cup team were also present at
\nthe gathering last night. Suwandi, Andrian Raturandang, Donny
\nSusetyo and Eddy Kusdaryanto said that they were ready to battle
\nit out.<\/p>\n
\"I'll do my best. Winning or losing is not a big deal,\"
\nSuwandi said.<\/p>\n
Eddy or Andrian have been nominated as the second singles but
\nDeddy and team manager Wailan Walalangi will decide who gets the
\nnod tomorrow, one hour before the draw.<\/p>\n
\"I'm ready to play second singles if my coach asks me to do
\nso,\" said Andrian, who will make his Davis Cup debut. \"Although
\nwe are considered underdogs, we are ready to give it our best.\"<\/p>\n
Eddy expressed the same optimism as his fellow debutant. \"I am
\nused to playing both singles and doubles. If my coach decides to
\ngive either job, it's okay,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Suwandi is the only player who looks certain to play singles
\nand doubles so far.<\/p>\n
The two singles of the two teams will lock horns on the
\nopening day. The doubles will be played on Saturday. The tie will
\nwind up on Sunday with the singles playing reversed matches. (05)<\/p>",
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