Indonesia and China bounce back in Fed Cup
Indonesia and China bounce back in Fed Cup
Agence France-Presse, Tokyo
Second seed Indonesia and third seed China bounced back from
defeat to record crucial victories in the Fed Cup tennis Asia-
Oceania zone preliminary round here Thursday.
Top seed Japan had a rest day after beating China Wednesday to
secure top spot in Pool A, while fourth seed Thailand, the winner
over Indonesia, defeated Kazakhstan 3-0 without its ace Tamarine
Tanasugarn.
Indonesia needed two three-setters in the singles against
Uzbekistan with Wynne Adiati Prakusya beating Ivanna Isroilova 4-
6, 6-1, 6-3 and Angelique "Angie" Widjaja beating Iroda
Tulyaganova 3-6, 6-1, 6-3.
Wynne, who teamed up with Angie then defeated Akgul
Amanmuradova and Isroilova 6-2, 6-1.
The Chinese were easy winners over New Zealand as Sun Tiantian
whipped Ilke Gers 6-1, 6-2, and Jie Zheng outclassed Shelley
Stephens 6-3, 6-4 in the six-team Pool B competition.
"I think I was a little bit better than her (Isroilova)
today," said Prakusya. "She was a finalist at the Asian
championships last year, so she is one of the good juniors coming
up from Asia. I think she can be a good player."
Prakusya, who was disconsolate after her shock defeat to Thai
number two Suchanan Viratprasert Wednesay, said she had already
put that loss behind her.
"It was one of those days when the match was not on my side.
It was my bad day. I just forgot it. I guess we're gonna fight
against Japan (in playoff)," said Prakusya, who will turn 22 on
the final day Saturday.
The top teams in Pool A and B will play the runners-up of the
opposing groups in Saturday's playoffs, and the two winners of
the ties will advance to the playoffs for the World Group to be
played in July.
Tamarine, the winner over former Wimbledon junior champions
Angie and Tulyaganova this week, comfortably watched Napaporn
Tongsalee beat Marina Shpak 6-2, 6-3, and Suchanan beat Karina
Jarlkaganova 6-2, 6-0.
She said she would prepare for matches in the next two days.
"It's gonna be a very tough against Chinese Taipei tomorrow
(Friday)... maybe it's tough, but we cannot underestimate them.
China (likely team against Thailand in playoff) is also a very
tough team, so I'm going to prepare for the last two days," said
Tamarine.
On Friday, Japan will play Hong Kong, while China and South
Korea will fight each other for a place in the playoff. Indonesia
will take on Malaysia.