Ayu playing first singles against Groenefeld in Fed Cup tie
Ayu playing first singles against Groenefeld in Fed Cup tie
Agencies, Essen, Germany/Paris
Teenager Ayu Fani Damayanti of Indonesia will have the odds
stacked against her when she takes on Germany's Anne-Lena
Groenefeld in the opening match of their Fed Cup World Group II
tie in Essen, Germany, on Saturday.
According to the draw made on Friday, Wynne Prakuysya will
play Julia Schruff in the second match, Antara reported.
On paper, the Germans should be untroubled on the red clay at
Essen. Groenefeld is ranked 47 and Schruff 104 on the WTA
computer, far above Ayu's 610 and Wynne's 422.
Indonesian number one Angelique "Angie" Widjaja was ruled out
of the tie due to a knee injury.
On Sunday, the reverse singles will be played, with Indonesian
veteran player Romana Tedjakusuma and Wynne teaming up to play
Anca Barna and Sandra Kloesel if the fifth and deciding doubles
match is needed.
"Whatever happens, Ayu must play freely, as though she has
nothing to lose," said Ayu's coach Deddy Prasetyo, who also
coaches Angie.
"Groenefeld is a good player and Ayu must be brave enough to
attack first."
Meanwhile, reigning champions Russia and the United States
have rolled out their big guns for their first-round Fed Cup ties
against Italy and Belgium this weekend.
With five players in the top 10, and with three current grand
slam champions from whom to choose, the Russians go into this
year's event knowing they have a great chance of defending the
title they won against France in Moscow last year.
Elena Dementieva will lead Russia in their first-round rubber
against Italy in Brindisi, while Elena Bovina and Dinara Safina,
ranked 14 and 37 respectively, will also play.
The United States looked the closest thing possible to a sure
thing heading into their first-round tie against Belgium in
Florida.
With a line-up featuring world number one Lindsay Davenport,
and two former world number ones in Serena and Venus Williams,
the Americans bring vastly superior firepower to a Belgian side
conspicuously lacking two former world number ones: Kim Clijsters
and Justine Henin-Hardenne.
Belgian captain Caroline Maes has turned to an inexperienced
squad which features 19-year-old Kirsten Flipkens, 34-year-old
Els Callens, Leslie Butkiewicz and Evelyne Van Hyfte.
Flipkens and Callens are ranked 174th and 175th in the world,
while Butkiewicz and Vanhyfte haven't cracked the top 300.