Eddy Kusdaryanto's selection tournament woes

JAKARTA (JP): Davis Cup debutant Eddy Kusdaryanto has failed to recover from hepatitis and is missing the year's first national selection tournament next week, an official said yesterday.

Soediharso, deputy secretary-general of the Indonesia Tennis Association, told reporters that Eddy is still resting while undergoing medical treatment.

"I suggest Eddy should get over his illness first. Liver disease is not like a heart attack. If you have a heart attack, you might well die once you've had the attack. But with liver disease .... no one can tell what will happen because it's invisible," Soediharso said.

The selection tournament will be staged from June 1 to June 6 at the Senayan clay courts, featuring the country's top 10 players plus six juniors. The players will be split into four groups. Group winners will make up the national elite team for various international events.

Eddy stole the show in his first Davis Cup appearance when he teamed up with Suwandi to beat South Korean duo Lee Hyung-taik and Chang Eui-jong 4-6, 6-7 (3-7), 7-6 (10-8), 6-3, 6-2 in a dramatic match here in February. Indonesia eventually went down 1-4 in the first-round tie.

Eddy also skipped the Davis Cup playoff against China in March after doctors diagnosed he was suffering from hepatitis A. They recommended Eddy should take a two-week rest.

Eddy, who opted to concentrate on his health, was replaced by East Timorese rookie Sebastian da Costa, who teamed up with Donny Susetyo.

So far, only nine players have confirmed their participation in the selection tournament. The senior players include Dede Suhendar, Tjahjono, Sebastian, Davis Cupper Andrian Raturandang and Djanuar Radjab. Stanley Sanger, Feby Widyanto, M Syahid and Hendri Susilo Pramono are representing the younger generation.

The national tennis body is waiting until tomorrow for Davis Cuppers Suwandi and Donny Susetyo to confirm their participation.

Indonesia's former best player Benny Wijaya has refused to take part in the tournament because he has to return to Taiwan today. The player, who extended his contract with a Taiwanese club for another two years, also complained that the association never treated him as a professional player.

Both Soediharso and the association's secretary-general Zainal Abidin said that it was Benny's right to make such a statement. But they both said that the statement should have been directed to their predecessors. (yan)