Benny to lead RI's Davis Cup team
Benny to lead RI's Davis Cup team
JAKARTA (JP): National top men's singles Benny Wijaya looks
destined to lead the Indonesian tennis squad in its Davis Cup
World Group qualifying round matches against giant Switzerland
here on Sept, 23-25.
"There will be no major changes in our team's lineup," Eddy
Katimansah, secretary general of the Indonesian Tennis
Association (Pelti), told The Jakarta Post yesterday.
Benny, national number two Suwandi and doubles specialists
Bonit Wiryawan and Donny Susetyo formed a winning team in their
Asia- Oceania Group II against South Korea here last May. Donny,
however, was benched during Indonesia's 3-2 victory.
Eddy hinted that a modification could only happen in the
doubles lineup. "We will pick those who are physically and
mentally ready to fight," he said.
Bonit is currently Indonesia's best doubles player who is able
to team up with either Benny or Donny. Sulistyo Wibowo may be
Bonit's other choice of partner.
Eddy said the final team lineup will be announced by Monday
after its plenary meeting. He added that some Pelti top officials
are still abroad and due to come back this weekend.
The five-tie matches will be played on the clay court of
Senayan tennis stadium, which used to be the venue for Davis Cup
matches when hosted by Indonesia. The slow surface of the court
has so far been the graveyard of South Korea in its four Davis
Cup tours.
Eddy denied speculations that the Davis Cup tier will be
staged at the US$3.8 million newly dedicated tennis complex at
Kemayoran, Central Jakarta.
"We will inform both the International Tennis Federation (ITF)
and the visiting team about the venue by Aug. 1," Eddy said.
Eddy, however, admitted Indonesia will be the underdog team,
despite the fanatic crowds and the hot climate. Switzerland, the
1992 losing finalist to the United States, is likely to field its
world number 19 Marc Rosset and number 45 Jakob Hlasek. Benny,
who tops the national rankings, is rated below 200 in the world.
"But we will battle it out," Eddy vowed.
World Group
Winner of the three-day matches will secure a place in the
World Group which fields 16 of the world best tennis playing
countries.
Indonesia entered the prestigious group twice in 1982 and 1988
by edging South Korea at home, both with 3-2 victories.
Eddy also said that an envoy of the ITF, Thomas Hollberg, will
be in attendance at the Indonesia-Switzerland Davis Cup tie.
Hollberg, ITF's director of men's tennis, has decided to come
here, following reports on the disruptive home crowd who marred
the recent matches pitting Indonesia and South Korea, Eddy said.
(amd)