Indonesia set to win Davis Cup zone title

JAKARTA (JP): The national men's tennis team will be seeking a victory in its Davis Cup Asia Oceania second play-off in China next week, not only to escape relegation but to keep alive its hopes of playing in the Bangkok Asian Games in December.

The chairman of the Indonesian Tennis Association, Sarwono Kusumaatmadja, was upbeat on Friday of his team's chances to clear the Chinese wall in the match to be played at the Li Shan Tennis Club in Yan Ji from Sept. 25 to Sept. 27.

"On paper, you can beat the Chinese because you have better world rankings than them. You have something to prove if you want to compete at the Asiad," he told the players, who leave for China on Sunday.

Indonesia will be banking on Andrian Raturandang (No. 499th on the ATP computer) and Febi Widhiyanto (1,056) in the singles. Bonit Wiryawan (1,118) and Sulistyo Wibowo (1,195) will team up in the doubles.

China will field Zhang Yu (822), Wang Yu-wei (882), Zheng Yu Li (1,048) and Li Si (1,071) in the crucial tie.

The loser will be relegated from the Asia/Oceania group of eight elite teams.

Indonesia lost to Lebanon 2-3 in the first playoff in July in Beirut, while China crashed to South Korea 1-4.

Indonesia and China last met in the 1996 Davis Cup first round here, when China posted a 5-0 drubbing.

Sarwono said that except for the less experienced Feby, the Indonesian players had great chances to win their respective matches.

"If they lose, there will be a big problem which could disturb our preparations for the Asiad," Sarwono said.

The National Sports Council will only send the tennis squad to Bangkok if it beats China. Women's singles world number 39 Yayuk Basuki is the only tennis player to have secured a place in the national team for the Asiad.

Sarwono said an Asian Games gold medal either from the men's doubles, women's team, women's doubles and mixed doubles looked realistic.

"We must keep up our tradition of winning Asiad gold," he said. (yan)