RI's Davis Cup squad ready for China tie<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Soldiers believe in a classic adage; that a
\nvictory is not decided on the battlefield but in the preparatory
\nperiod.<\/p>\n
Believing that the logic is trustworthy, the Indonesian Davis
\nCup squad has shrugged off criticism of the rigorous five-week
\ntraining session leading up to its Asia Oceania playoff match
\nagainst China here, scheduled for April 5 to April 7.<\/p>\n
\"Experience has taught us that makeshift preparation cost us a
\nwin in our last Davis Cup battle,\" coach Deddy Prasetyo said
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
The quartet of Suwandi, Andrian Raturandang, Edi Kusdaryanto
\nand Donny Susetyo were left reeling after their 1-4 drubbing by
\nSouth Korea last month. It was Indonesia's first home defeat to
\nthe Koreans in their eight Davis Cup encounters.<\/p>\n
\"Better preparation will boost my confidence that a victory is
\nwithin my team's reach,\" non-playing captain Wailan Walalangi
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Deddy, a true believer in tennis science, said that his boys
\nare now physically four times better than they were in the first-
\nround defeat last month.<\/p>\n
\"They have already reached 90 percent of the ideal fitness
\nrequired for a bruising match,\" said Deddy during a training
\nsession. He noticed that Suwandi, his undoubted trump card, has
\nshowed drastic improvement.<\/p>\n
Wailan yesterday played down the exceptionally tough challenge
\nexpected from China in the crucial tie. The winner will stay in
\nthe Asia Oceania group, but the loser must survive another
\nplayoff slated for September to avoid relegation.<\/p>\n
\"It's true that China has an outstanding singles player in Pan
\nBing, but as a team they are shaky,\" Wailan said. Pan, the 1990
\nAsian Games gold medalist, will lead a four-strong team which
\ncrashed to New Zealand in a first-round match last month.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has chosen the Senayan clay court on which to
\nentertain the Chinese. The two nations last played in 1991 and on
\nthat occasion China routed Indonesia 5-0 in 1991. \"We are
\ncomfortable playing on the slow surface whereas the Chinese are
\nusually tougher when playing on hard courts,\" Wailan said.<\/p>\n
Wailan's squad will test their fitness in two warm-up matches
\nagainst fellow national players Bonit Wiryawan and Sulistyo
\nWibowo on Wednesday and Friday.<\/p>\n
The captain refused to disclose the lineup of his team, but
\nexpected to announce it after the warm-up matches.<\/p>\n
The Chinese team is scheduled to arrive next Saturday. (amd)<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ris-davis-cup-squad-ready-for-china-tie-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }