Indonesia faces Davis Cup upset in South Korea
Indonesia faces Davis Cup upset in South Korea
SEOUL (Agencies): Seoul remains a horrifying battle ground for Indonesia as in-form South Koreans won both opening singles matches for a healthy 2-0 lead over their visitors in the first round of the Davis Cup Asia Oceania Group One yesterday.
Indonesian coach Wailan Walalangi's decision to pick Bonit Wiryawan to play the first singles match proved hazardous when the double specialist succumbed to South Korean number one Yoon Yong-il in straight sets 4-6, 5-7, 2-6. Bonit, playing singles in the Davis Cup for the first time, matched Yong-il's serve and volley game in the first two sets but then ran out of steam.
Suwandi, number one player in place of Benny Wijaya, failed to take revenge for his Asian Games defeat to Lee Hyung-taik, giving up 2-6, 6-7, 2-6 to the South Korean Davis Cup debutant.
The Indonesian Tennis Association dropped Benny from the team, following his decision to sign a three-year contract with a Taiwanese club.
Wailan will now have to reconsider fielding his doubles team of Donny Susetyo and first-timer Teddy Tanjung for today's decisive rubber. A loss in today's only match will dash Indonesia's hopes of making a second-round appearance.
Indonesia has won all four of its home Davis Cup matches against South Korea, but lost all three away events. A Benny-led team was drubbed 0-5 in its last trip to Seoul in 1993. The squad made amends for the humiliation with a 3-2 third-round win in Jakarta last year, which allowed Indonesia to play in the World Group qualifying round match against Switzerland.
In Calcutta, India took both opening singles against Hong Kong's inexperienced Davis Cup without dropping a set.
Talented Leander Paes gave the 1993 semifinalist a perfect start when he brushed aside Thorsten Poelzl 6-3, 6-3, 6-0 in just 83 minutes.
Debutant Mahesh Bhupathi built on the early advantages by routing Hong Kong's number one Sven Koehler 6-0, 6-4, 6-3.
The U.S.-based Bhupathi, preferred to Asif Ismail, justified his selection with a powerful serve and volley game that gave the left-handed Koehler no room for recovery after a 6-0 rout in the first set.
Bhupathi took an hour and 38 minutes to wrap up the match, breaking Koehler's serve in the ninth game of the third set to signal the easy win.
India, playing in the Asia-Oceania zonals for the first time in four years, is expected to take a decisive 3-0 lead today, when Paes partners Gaurav Natekar in the doubles against Koehler and Poelzl.
Expected start
"It was just the start we were looking for," India's non- playing captain Jaideep Mukherjee said. "A 2-0 lead does not cause sleepless nights."
Mukherjee, who sees this tie as the start of India's campaign to return to world group, praised Bhupathi for keeping his cool in his maiden Davis Cup match.
"He showed no signs of nerves that one usually associates with a player taking part in the competition for the first time. He lost his concentration midway through the second set, but then recovered quickly to romp home easily in the third."
Mark Bailey, Hong Kong's non-playing captain, said he was not surprised at the results.
"The difference between the two teams was obvious," Bailey said. "India play well on grass, while my players do not have enough experience on this surface."