Indonesia hopes for a `Sabatini bad day' in Cup
Indonesia hopes for a `Sabatini bad day' in Cup
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia is waiting for a bit of luck in its
Federation Cup battle against Argentina, hoping that Gabriela
Sabatini won't be in top form in this weekend's matches.
"Argentina is a strong team mainly because of Sabatini. That's
why we hope that the two days will be her bad days," Indonesian
coach Suharyadi said during his team's practice session
yesterday.
Argentinean coach and non-playing captain Ricardo Rivera
confirmed yesterday that world number seven Sabatini will play
singles and team up with Patricia Tarabini in the doubles.
Sabatini will make her first Federation Cup appearance after a
seven-year absence.
Suharyadi appeared to learn from Sabatini's erratic record,
saying that anything could happen in the do-or-die matches. He,
however, admitted that he was uncertain about stealing a point
from an in-form Sabatini.
The losing team in this weekend's clash will be relegated to
the zonal group, while the winner will qualify for the world
group play-off matches for the 1996 Cup race.
Indonesian ace Yayuk Basuki also declined to predict her
awaited match against the Argentinean number one. "I'm not going
to say I'm optimistic about beating Sabatini. The most important
point is that we are all trying to do our best to win this
battle," she said.
Yayuk lost to Sabatini in their only meeting in a tournament
last year in the Canadian Open. The Indonesian scored a rare win
over the 1990 U.S. Open champion in an exhibition match here last
September.
Sabatini, who was once dubbed the strongest world number one
contender in the 1990s, ended her nearly-three-year drought
without a title last November by winning the season-end Virginia
Slims championships in New York.
But Yayuk carried a record no better than Sabatini's. The
world number 26 has not won a tournament since her victory over
Sabatini's teammate Florencia Labat in the Indonesia Open last
year. Diarrhea killed Yayuk's dreams of a hat trick in the
Indonesia Open last January.
Left-handed Labat is included in the Argentinean Federation
Cup team against Indonesia.
"Our major problem is that we have only two trump cards,
compared to Argentina's three," said Suharyadi. The national
coach has asked Yayuk and Indonesian number two Romana
Tedjakusuma to play both singles and doubles. Second stringers
Mimma Chernovita and Enny Sulistyowati will most likely be
reserves for the matches.
The drawing for the matches will be presided over by Bill
Gilmour, the International Tennis Federation referee, tomorrow.
Czech wins
Meanwhile in La Manga, Spain, veteran Helena Sukova steered
the Czech Republic to a 3-0 win over Poland while debutant Martin
Hingis kept Switzerland's hopes alive against Latvia in the Cup
qualifying tournament on Monday, AFP reported.
Sukova beat 18-year-old Magdalena Grzybowska 7-5, 6-3 while
Jana Novotna beat Kataryna Nowak 6-4, 6-3.
Slovenia gave Britain a clay court lesson in the other group-A
match with Barbara Mulej beating Julie Pullin 6-1, 6-3 and Tina
Krizan beating Claire Wood 4-6, 6-1, 6-1. Wood partnered Jo Durie
to win the doubles rubber 2-6, 6-1, 6-2.
In Group B, Russia had a tough tie against Latvia, before
winning 2-1 while Hungary was awarded the tie against Georgia who
failed to field three players.
In Group C Belarus beat Finland while in group D Latvia
triumphed 2-1 over Switzerland with Hingis beating Larisa
Savechenko 6-1, 6-2. (amd)
Fed Cup results
Group A
Czech Rep 3 Poland 0
Slovenia 2 Britain 1
Group B
Russia 1 Ukraine 1
Hungary 3 Georgia 0
Group C
Finland 1 Belarus 2
Switzerland 1 Latvia 2
Group D
Belgium 2 Croatia 1
Rumania 3 Israel 0