Indonesia Davis Cup team intact for next round
Indonesia Davis Cup team intact for next round
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Tennis Association (Pelti) will
likely retain the current national Davis Cup team after its
victory over the Philippines in the first round of the Asia
Oceania Zone Group II match last week.
The Pelti official in charge of athlete development, Sudjiono
Timan, told a press conference on Monday that the winning team
members would not be replaced unless one of them was injured or
ill.
"The team members will remain the same as long as they are
ready to fight. Besides, we have named four players and two
substitutes for the Davis Cup," he said.
The team members are Suwandi, Febi Widhiyanto, Hendri Susilo
Pramono and Edy Kusdaryanto with Sebastian Da Costa and Dede
Suhendar Dinata as substitutes.
Coach Dedy Prasetyo said that the remaining five weeks would
be used to increase players' physical fitness and improve their
technical skills.
"The warming up in three futures in India brought advantages
for us. Many foreign players have applied new technical skills
which are completely new for us. Maybe our players will need
about one year to be able to pick up the skills," he said.
Dedy said the players will compete in two future tournaments
in the capital and hopefully could compete in two more future
tournaments in Asia.
Suwandi said his experience in three future tournaments in
India mentally helped him to deal with the pressure of competing
as the first singles in the first day.
"I was downed 2-4 in the first set, but I could overcome the
pressure and I fought hard to win the first set. The next sets
were much easier. It's all because of the warming up in India,"
he said.
Earlier, Pelti secretary general, Soegeng Sarjadi, declined to
finance athletes' expenses in those tournaments saying that their
respective clubs should finance the athletes.
Indonesia beat the Philippines 4-1 in a three-day match in
Manila. On the first day, Suwandi beat Johnny Arcilla 6-4, 6-2,
6-2 and Febi defeated Adelo Abadia 6-4, 6-2, 6-2. In the doubles,
Hendri Susilo Pramono and Edy Kusdaryanto gave the country a 3-0
win after beating Arcilla and Abadia 6-4, 6-2, 6-7 (4-7), 5-7, 6-
1. On the reversed singles, Febi lost to Arcilla 0-6, 6-3, 4-6,
while Suwandi won 6-4, 6-1 over Rolando Ruel Jr.
Indonesia will face Malaysia and most likely field the players
Selvam Veerasingam, Hazuan Hizan and Vasutheven Ortchuan.
Malaysia upset Iran 3-2 in Kuala Lumpur.
Dedy said his players had an equal chance against Malaysia.
"We have an advantage as a host with support from local tennis
lovers," he said, adding that he still had no idea on which
surface Indonesia would meet Malaysia in the Senayan Tennis
Complex.
Sudjiono said the prize money earned by Indonesia would be
useful to groom athletes in tournaments before competing against
Malaysia from April 4 to April 6.
"If the team still needs more money, it's Pelti's task to
provide funds. It's hard for clubs to finance their athletes
abroad as there are no more active clubs which can afford to do
so," he said. (yan)