Indonesia finds Philippines a new threat in tennis

Indonesia finds Philippines a new threat in tennis

Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

Indonesia sees the Philippines as a new threat along with
perennial archrival Thailand in the tennis competition at the
2005 Southeast Asia (SEA) Games with the hosts fielding a group
of "imported" noteworthy American tennis players on their squad.

"We should keep our eye on the Philippines right now, as
several good American tennis players (with Philippine heritage)
will play for them," Indonesia's women's singles ace Wynne
Prakusya said on Thursday.

According August Ferry Raturandang, the deputy secretary of
the Indonesian Tennis Association, world ranked number 103
women's singles player Lilia Osteloh, 27, Riza Zalameda, 19;
number 204 men's singles player Cecil Mamiit, 29, and world
ranked 211 men's player Eric Taino, 30, will represent the
Philippines at the SEA Games, which will run from Nov. 27 to Dec.
5.

He said that those players were born and raised in the U.S.
but held Philippines passports.

Now living in Columbus, Ohio, Lilia, whose father is American
and mother is from the Philippines, once had a world ranking of
41 back in 2001, according to the WTAtour.com.

Cecil, born and living in Los Angeles, has his best ranking at
72nd in 1999, according to the ATPtennis.com.

Eric, a U.S. citizen and living in Los Angeles, had his best
world ranking at 122nd.

Ranking-wise, they are well ahead of Indonesian players. Prima
Simpatiaji is world ranked 635th, Suwandi 639th, Sunu Wahyu
Trijati 918th and Bonit Wiryawan 1,088th.

Suwandi's best ranking was 318th, achieved during the 1995
season.

Wynne, who has taken over the pivotal role of the ace of the
team after the withdrawal of Angelique Widjaja due to injury, is
ranked 284th, along with compatriots Romana Tedjakusuma, 352nd,
Ayu Fani Damayanti, 484th and Septi Mende 796th.

But Ferry refused to write off Indonesia's medal prospects.

"There will be a tough competition in tennis between
Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines now," he said. "We might
still be able to secure women's doubles and men's doubles wins as
we are usually strong in those areas."

While acknowledging the three-way rivalry, Wynne hopes good
achievements in past SEA Games would provide extra motivation to
her squad.

"Our strength is that as a team ... we have more experience
(in the SEA Games) than the Philippines," she said.

Wynne will play in the singles but she sees better prospects
in the doubles with Romana Tedjakusuma and mixed doubles. "We are
usually good in the doubles," she said. "In mixed doubles... I
think we still have stronger contenders than the Philippines,"
she said.

Wynne contributed two of thee golds that the tennis team won
at 2003 SEA Games through her partnership with Maya Rosa in
women's doubles and Suwandi in mixed doubles. The other gold was
produced by the men's team.