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)