German tennis team unconcerned about Indonesian humidity

German tennis team unconcerned about Indonesian humidity

Arya Abhiseka, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The humid conditions in Jakarta will not affect the German
players in their Fed Cup women's tennis team matches against the
host team, Germany's non-playing captain Klaus Eberhard says.

Eberhard said that they had been well-prepared for the
conditions and were ready for tough games against Indonesia.

Speaking to reporters after the draw ceremony at the Peninsula
Hotel here on Thursday, Eberhard said his players were
professionals who were able to play in any kind of conditions.

"We've been here for a week. We have had enough time to
prepare. It's hot but we are accustomed to it as it is currently
hot in Germany as well," he said.

The squad, fresh from Germany that is experiencing a heatwave
this summer, arrived here last week in a bid to acclimatize to
the high humidity.

"It is definitely more humid here, but we believe that the
players can win the matches," Eberhard added.

The Indonesian team will certainly face a tough challenge from
two-time winners Germany in a two-day play-off on Saturday and
Sunday at the Senayan tennis stadium.

Despite the potentially tough encounters, the Indonesian team
appears equally confident and has high hopes of reaching the
World Group.

Team ace Angelique Widjaja rated the German team as being
strong and said that she was looking forward to playing against
them.

"There is nothing more I can say ... except that I am ready to
play and fulfill everyone's expectations," she said.

Angie, as Angelique Widjaja is more familiarly known, will
lead a four-strong host team, the other three members of which
are Wynne Prakusya, Sandy Gumulya and Septi Mende.

Wynne, whose current Women's Tennis Association (WTA) ranking
is 120, will begin Indonesia's campaign on Saturday against Anca
Barna (62). This will be followed by a match between Angie (70)
and Barbara Rittner (89). The game starts at 1 p.m.

Players will switch opponents on the second day with Angie-
Barna taking to the court first.

The host team has also decided that Angie and Wynne will play
in the doubles, in which the visiting team will face Angelika
Roesch (107) and Vanessa Henke (218).

Anca said she would strive for a win against Wynne to clear
way to take overall victory.

"I think, if I win the first game it should give us more
confidence in following through later," she said.

Currently, Germany, which won the Fed Cup in 1987 and 1992, is
ranked 11th by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) while
Indonesia is 16th.

Germany has been consigned to the play-offs after losing to
defending champion Slovakia in the first quarterfinals of the
World Group.

Indonesia has been awarded a berth in the play-offs after
finishing at the top with Japan in the regional tournament in
Japan in April.

Japan is drawn against Sweden. Other ties are Argentina vs
Hungary, Australia vs Colombia, Austria vs Canada, Croatia vs
Brazil, South Africa vs Czech Republic and Switzerland vs Israel.

The winners of the play-offs will qualify for the World Group
next year.