Angie, Wynne a challenge to German players: Lang
Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The German team will be in for a "challenge" against local stars Angelique Widjaja and Wynne Prakusya when they take on Indonesia in a Federation Cup playoff, according to the head of the visiting delegation.
"You have two strong players. We have respect for them. It's a challenge for our players," Gunther Lang told The Jakarta Post during his team's training session at the Senayan Tennis Courts here on Monday.
Lang specifically singled out Angelique as a very strong player.
The German team, which arrived here on Sunday, comprises nine members -- four players and five officials. They had a four-hour practice, two hours in the morning and two hours in the afternoon.
The players went through some practice games, with Anca Barna playing with Vanessa Henke inside the hardcourt stadium and Barbara Rittner taking on Angelika Roesch on another court, outside the stadium.
The hardcourt stadium, which used to have a clay surface, will be the venue of the two-day matches starting on Saturday.
Marlene Weingartner, who was part of the singles contingent during the team's 2-3 defeat at the hands of Slovakia in April, was not with the team. She has been forced to delay her departure because of illness and will arrive on Wednesday.
"She has had a cold for a few days. We prefer to wait for her fitness. She will be fit," Lang said, adding that the team encountered no problems in adjusting to local weather and the court.
If Weingartner is fit, the German team is likely to field her and Anca Barna in the singles, with Barbara Rittner teaming up with one of them in the doubles.
However, Lang, who is the Vice-President of the German Tennis Association, would not confirm the roster, and would leave it the captain to decide.
"We're at the moment assessing the form of some players. The captain will decide," he said.
Germany has been forced into a playoff after losing to Slovakia in the quarterfinals of the World Group. A loss to Indonesia would relegate them out of the elite group.
Lang was aware of the consequences of a loss. "It would be a pity for the team (being eliminated from the World Group)," he said.
Meanwhile, at a media conference, held at the office of the Indonesian Tennis Association (Pelti), the Indonesian team expressed confidence about the matches.
"I'm really fired up for these Fed Cup matches. I have been longing to play for my team at home. I'm absolutely enthusiastic about playing in front of home fans," Angie, as Angelique Widjaja is more popularly known, said.
Wynne Prakusya was also present, but Sandy Gumulya and Septi Mende were not, both junior members in the team still on their Australian tour and will return on Tuesday.