Kiwis back from disaster against Indonesia<\/p>\n
Agence France-Presse, Invercargill, New Zealand<\/p>\n
Davis Cup veteran Alistair Hunt brought New Zealand back from the
\nbrink to avoid an opening round disaster in the tennis tie
\nagainst Indonesia here Friday.<\/p>\n
Hunt beat Indonesian No 1 Suwandi 4-6, 7-5, 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 to
\nsquare the rubber at 1-1.<\/p>\n
But Kiwi No 1 Mark Nielsen never settled into his game before
\ngoing down to Peter Handoyo 2-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-4.<\/p>\n
Hunt, 29, produced a fighting performance when New Zealand
\nwere staring down the barrel of a 0-2 deficit after the first
\nday.<\/p>\n
He came from behind after losing the first set to win in five.<\/p>\n
It was a great finish to a dramatic night for New Zealand who
\nare ranked 24th in world Davis Cup rankings compared with
\nIndonesia's 37.<\/p>\n
The Kiwi experience and home crowd support added to Hunt's
\ngrit in keeping New Zealand's hopes alive. Hunt, in his eighth
\nyear of Davis Cup tennis, broke Suwandi's serve at 6-5 to snatch
\nthe second set and the hope of upsetting the world's 290th best
\nplayer.<\/p>\n
The big New Zealander lost the third set 6-4, but snatched the
\nfourth set with a series of impeccable backhands. Suwandi broke
\nHunt in the first game of the fifth set but, after complaining to
\nthe referee about a bad line call, never regained his
\nconcentration.<\/p>\n
Hunt shot out to a 4-1 lead and finally took the set 6-3,
\npunching his fists in the air at victory.<\/p>\n
\"I guess Davis Cup brings out the best in me. You always try
\nfor your country. I'm just about on my last legs and I enjoyed
\nevery moment of it out there,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Captain Glen Wilson said the crowd support was \"fantastic\" and
\nit was a great effort by Hunt to keep New Zealand in the tie.<\/p>\n
\"I know Alistair. I have played with him and he's outstanding
\nin those situations. He can withstand the pressure,\" Wilson said.
\nHunt said he felt encouraged as the game progressed.<\/p>\n
\"I felt he (Suwandi) started to fade as the game wore on and
\nhis serve was not as potent,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Indonesia took a 1-0 lead when their No 2 American-based
\nHandoyo overcame a jittery start to outclass Nielsen.<\/p>\n
Nielsen started fiercely, breaking serve in the first game and
\nopening his service game with an ace.<\/p>\n
He broke again in the third to win the first set 6-2 in less
\nthan 30 minutes.<\/p>\n
But the younger Indonesian player, in only his third Davis Cup
\nappearance, wore away the Kiwi's confidence.<\/p>\n
Handoyo, the No 1 player at the University of Tennessee,
\nshowed more fluent court speed and agility. He broke Nielsen's
\nserve to take a 6-5 lead in the second set.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/kiwis-back-from-disaster-against-indonesia-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}