Concerned Philippines wants venue for Davis Cup moved

Concerned Philippines wants venue for Davis Cup moved

JAKARTA (JP): The Philippines, citing security concerns, has
requested the International Tennis Federation (ITF) move its
Davis Cup Asia Oceania Group Two match against Indonesia in April
from Jakarta.

Deputy secretary-general of the Indonesian Tennis Association
(Pelti) Benny Mailili said on Tuesday the Philippines Lawn Tennis
Association asked the ITF to name Manila or a city in a neutral
country as the site of the second-round tie, scheduled for April
2 to April 4.

"The Philippines' concern is understandable and it could
become a realistic reason to move the site of the match. But we
will wait for the ITF's decision," Benny said.

"If the ITF decides to meet the Philippines' demand, we would
prefer a neutral country." He did not name countries to
Indonesia's liking.

Riots and unrest have plagued the country as it lurches toward
democracy after the fall of the New Order regime last May.

Benny said the Philippines should not have played up the
security concerns.

"We have told the ITF we will fully guarantee the Philippine
team's safety from their arrival until their departure for home."

Benny said Pelti would ask the police to maintain order during
matches to be held at the Senayan tennis complex. Police have
also been asked to safeguard the Baskin Robbins Junior
International tennis championships here next month.

Indonesia originally opted for the Kemayoran tennis court's
plexi-pave surface, but switched to Senayan after discovering the
Filipinos were not used to the rebound-ace surface.

"The fact that the Philippines doesn't have rebound-ace courts
is to our advantage. Besides, our players have trained on this
type of court during their preparations for the first-round match
against Qatar earlier this month," Benny said.

In the Asia Oceania region, Australia and Indonesia are the
only countries with the modification of hard courts.

Pelti has announced it will maintain the team of Suwandi, Febi
Widhiyanto, Edy Kusdaryanto and Hendri Susilo Pramono, who
overpowered Qatar 5-0 in Doha in the first round.

They will likely meet Joseph Lizardo, Bryan Juinio and Michael
Misa, who beat Chinese Taipei 3-2 in the first round.

Winner of the April match will join the zone's Group One
competition next season. Indonesia was relegated from the Group
One last year after losing to Lebanon.

Benny was concerned the Philippines would recruit Cecil
Mammit, world ranked in the 200s, who holds dual U.S. and
Philippine citizenship.

The former top U.S. collegiate player upset Michael Chang last
week on his way to the final of the US$815,000 Sybase Open. (yan)