Argentina to clash with RI in Fed Cup
Argentina to clash with RI in Fed Cup
JAKARTA (JP): "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" was not a part of the script when Indonesia welcomed Gabriela Sabatini and company for their Federation Cup match yesterday.
World number seven Sabatini exuded confidence, flashing the same gleaming smiles at the crowd in a scene reminiscent of the start of her first Indonesian trip last year. That's how she tamed hordes of enthusiastic reporters who bombarded her with questions about the Federation Cup matches against Indonesia this weekend.
A battalion of journalists could not take their eyes off the photogenic player, as she walked to her waiting car at Soekarno- Hatta airport, hoping to hear something newsworthy come out of her fresh red lips. But their hopes went up in smoke as the match organizers did not give Sabatini any break, even for a short interview.
"We intentionally prevent Sabatini from making any comment on her arrival. She's tired," said M. Zainal of the Indonesian tennis association.
Nobody approached Florencia Labat, Argentina's number two player, who left the airport along with non-playing captain Ricardo Rivera in a luxury jeep. The organizers gave Sabatini a more exclusive reception, providing her with a Mercedes Benz.
Rivera refused to rate his side's chance of winning the 22-23 battle, to be fought on the rebound ace surface of the Senayan tennis stadium.
"Indonesian players are very good. It will be a tough match," he said.
Argentina, which reached the semifinals of the Federation Cup twice, in 1985 and 1993, has sidelined Ines Gorrochategui because of a foot injury. "She is not used to playing on rebound ace," Rivera said.
The other Argentinean team member, doubles specialist Patricia Tarabini, is expected to arrive today.
Rivera said he took the match against Indonesia seriously. "We arrived here early to have enough time to practice and get used to the court," he said. Losers of the world group qualifying round matches will be relegated to the zonal group.
Indonesia has called up second stringers and debutants Mimma Chernovita and Enny Sulistyowati to complete the national team, which looks like it will be relying heavily on Romana Tedjakusuma and world number 26 Yayuk Basuki.
Yayuk, Indonesia's regular Federation Cup backbone since 1985, and Romana will play both singles and doubles in the weekend's matches. The International Tennis Federation applied the Davis Cup format to the women's team tennis competition starting this year.
Neither Argentina nor Indonesia qualified for the group of the world's top eight teams, after losing to Spain and Bulgaria, respectively, in last year's second round matches. (amd)