RI teens continue their unbeaten run<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian youths maintained their winning
\nstreak at the World Youth Cup Asia Oceania qualifying round
\ntennis team championships with a 3-0 crushing of Hong Kong
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
The home favorites secured their victory and a place in the
\nquarterfinals when Feby Widhiyanto outlasted Jason Sankey 4-6, 6-
\n3, 6-1 in a heated match played under the blistering sun at the
\nSenayan tennis court.<\/p>\n
Indonesia had earlier taken a 1-0 lead, thanks to first
\nsingles Peter Handoyo's 6-3, 6-0 steamrolling over tiny Wayne
\nWong. Peter then teamed up with Hendri Susilo in the final and
\nindecisive rubber to beat Wong and Sankey 6-3, 6-4.<\/p>\n
\"It's an important confidence boosting win in our bid to make
\na trip to the World Youth Cup next September,\" national coach
\nDedy Prasetyo said.<\/p>\n
All semifinalists will automatically qualify for the finals in
\nEssen, Germany. The annual tournament for under-16 players will
\nfield 16 teams in both female and male events.<\/p>\n
Slow starter Feby did everything right during his power play
\nagainst Sankey except in the first set when he allowed too many
\nunforced errors. A careless gambling of playing a safe game cost
\nFeby a crucial ninth game.<\/p>\n
Smarting from a first-set loss, the 15-year-old Indonesian
\ndictated a number of rallies from the baseline in the second set.
\nBoth baseliners broke and dropped two games each before Feby
\nmanaged to capitalize on Sankey's weakening form.<\/p>\n
Feby maintained his pace with efficient drop shots to make
\ntiring Sankey run and set up a stretched set. A desperate Sankey
\nlabored to stage a comeback, but he had already ran out of too
\nmuch steam to match Feby's deep shots.<\/p>\n
\"I avoided answering his power play in the last two sets since
\nI'm not fast enough to match his big strokes,\" said an elated
\nFeby.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian youths join their female teammates, seeded
\nfirst in this week-long tournament, to march into today's
\nquarterfinals.<\/p>\n
Dedy said the girls have a better chance to win a ticket to
\nEssen than the boys. \"My girls are more experienced in
\ninternational events,\" said Dedy.<\/p>\n
Indonesia capped its World Youth Cup run in 1992 in Barcelona
\nwhen its youths finished seventh. They entered the 1992 finals as
\nthe Asia Oceania zone winners. (amd)<\/p>",
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