Uzbekistan edges Indonesia in Davis Cup<\/p>\n
Musthofid
\nThe Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
Indonesia's hopes of finally defeating Uzbekistan on home soil
\nwere quashed on Sunday when the younger but higher ranked
\nvisitors took the decisive fifth match in their Davis Cup Asia-
\nOceania Zone Group I first round playoff.<\/p>\n
Although Indonesia was ahead 2-1 coming into the final day's
\nsingles, Farrukh Dustov and Denis Istomin, both 10, fought off
\ntheir opponents and the partisan crowd to win at the Senayan
\nHardcourt in Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
It was Uzbekistan's third 3-2 defeat of Indonesia in four
\nyears. They will meet India in the second round.<\/p>\n
Dustov overcame cramping and a comeback effort from Suwandi
\nfor a 7-5, 7-5, 4-6, 3-6, 6-3 victory in the rain-delayed first
\nmatch.<\/p>\n
Istomin, despite playing singles on Friday and with Murad
\nInoyatov in the losing doubles match on Saturday, showed no ill
\neffects as he kept Prima Simpatiaji at bay 7-6 (9-7), 7-6 (7-5),
\n6-0 win.<\/p>\n
The Uzbeks erupted in joy as another forehand from Prima --
\nhis glaring weakness on the night -- overshot the baseline.<\/p>\n
\"I was proud that I could contribute a point that brought
\nUzbekistan the victory,\" Istomin said through the team's
\ninterpreter.<\/p>\n
He admitted he was nervous with the tie riding on his
\nshoulders. \"But I convinced myself that I had the desire to win.\"<\/p>\n
As the previously raucous crowd silently filed out of the
\nstands, Prima could only trudge off the court with his head
\nbowed, no doubt wondering what might have been.<\/p>\n
The 24 year old had his chances but was unable to convert at
\ncrucial moments, especially at 5-4 on Istomin's serve with two
\nset points. Tellingly, one of the points was wasted with a
\nforehand error.<\/p>\n
Istomin, ranked 756 on the ATP computer, had beaten Suwandi
\n(820) on Friday, while Prima (987) thrashed Uzbekistan's number
\none Dustov (331).<\/p>\n
Although Prima kept it close in the first two sets against
\nIstomin, he was unable to play the attacking game that had left
\nDustov frustrated.<\/p>\n
Prima wrested a 5-4 lead with a break in the ninth game of the
\nfirst set, only to allow Istomin to break back through his double
\nfault and a volleying error.<\/p>\n
Although many games went to deuce, Istomin was the one more
\nlikely to finish them out. Prima's inability to win when ahead
\nwas also evident in the tiebreaks.<\/p>\n
Prima opened the second set convincingly by racing to a 3-0
\nlead. But Istomin's solid backcourt game allowed him to close the
\ngap and force the tiebreak, which he won.<\/p>\n
By the third set, Prima's challenge was spent, and Istomin
\ntook six games in a row.<\/p>\n
In the earlier match, Suwandi rallied from two sets down to
\nforce a decider, and the Indonesian Tennis Association's much
\ncriticized choice of the 29-year-old Bandung player appeared to
\nhave paid off.<\/p>\n
But Dustov, who had received leg massages as the match dragged
\non, came back refreshed after the fourth set break, relying on
\nhis powerful serve to keep him in control. He used his 1.94 meter
\nheight to serve 16 aces, double that of his opponent.<\/p>\n
Dustov put paid to Suwandi with a punishing volley.<\/p>\n
\"I felt tiredness in my legs. But after getting the massage
\nmany times, it became better and better. It was a long and tiring
\nmatch,\" Dustov said.<\/p>",
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