Suwandi off to fine start on national selection trail<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A rejuvenated Suwandi, bronze medalist at last
\nyear's Southeast Asian Games in Chiang Mai, Thailand, got off to
\na blistering start as he breezed past Muhamad Syahid, 6-4, 6-2 on
\nthe opening day of the preselection tournament for the national
\ntennis team at the Senayan clay courts yesterday.<\/p>\n
It was painfully clear from the outset that Suwandi had too
\nmuch firepower for the little-known Syahid, who only managed to
\nput up any resistance in the first set.<\/p>\n
Syahid faded badly in the second set, allowing Suwandi to
\ndominate proceedings. With an array of well-aimed top spins and
\npowerful groundstrokes Suwandi wrong footed Syahid time and
\nagain.<\/p>\n
The two games won by the fast-tiring Syahid in the second set
\ncame courtesy of unforced errors by his higher-ranked adversary.<\/p>\n
\"To tell you the truth I haven't got used yet to playing on
\nclay. I had a little difficulty getting into my stride in the
\nfirst set because of the slow court,\" Suwandi said after the
\nmatch.<\/p>\n
Asked about his chances of rejoining the national team, the
\n19-year-old West Javanese said for now he would only concentrate
\non doing well in the on-going tournament in order to qualify for
\nthe next selection trial on Dec. 2.<\/p>\n
Sixteen players are competing in the current preselection
\nevent. They are divided into four groups. The best eight of them
\nwin the right to compete against the eight national players, who
\nare members of the national squad formed following last year's
\nselection matches.<\/p>\n
Suwandi, the top seed in the preselection tournament, is in
\nGroup B with old-war horse Yustejo Tarik, Abdul Kahar MIM and
\nSyahid. In his second match, Suwandi is to take on Yustejo, 42,
\ntoday.<\/p>\n
Yustejo, the 1982 New Delhi Asian Games champion, lost out 1-
\n6, 3-6 to Abdul Kahar yesterday.<\/p>\n
In another match yesterday, Yusmawan Fahmi from Central Java
\ndefeated Surya Wijaya from Lampung, 6-4, 7-5. It was the most
\ninteresting match of the day, with fortunes fluctuating as the
\ntwo players fought to outwit each other in an absorbing duel
\nlasting about two hours.<\/p>\n
Surya, who trailed 4-5 in the second set, drew level at 5-5
\nafter breaking Yusmawan's serve. But Yusmawan regained the lead
\nwhen a passing shot executed with deadly accuracy and precision
\npierced through his rival's defense. He closed out the match when
\nSurya shot wide.<\/p>\n
The preselection tournament winds up tomorrow.
\nYesterday's other results: Group A: Tjahyono beat Jeffri
\nTrihandiansyah, 6-1, 6-3 ; Haryadi Lesmana beat Mulyadi 7-6 (6-
\n2), 6-4; Group C: Eddy Kusdaryanto beat Hendri Susilo, 3-6, 6-0,
\n6-3. Group D: Donny Susteyo beat Stanley Sanger, 6-1, 6-2. (bas)<\/p>",
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