Indonesia to face NZ in Fed Cup opener
Indonesia to face NZ in Fed Cup opener
OSAKA, Japan (Agencies): Indonesia is scheduled to face New Zealand in the opening day of the preliminary round-robin of the Fed Cup tennis Asia Oceania Group One on the outdoor hard courts at the Utsubo Tennis Center here starting on Tuesday.
Nonplaying captain Suzanna Arianto Wibowo said in a release on Monday that Indonesia had a better quality team than New Zealand and Singapore.
"We are glad to be in pool B because there are two countries -- New Zealand and Singapore -- which are not as good as us."
Team manager Martina Wijaya said: "We must win in pool B to be able to reach the final. Of course, we will face tough a challenge from China and Chinese Taipei but they have similar strength to us. The most important thing is our players will have to work hard to reach our goal."
Indonesia is fielding world-ranked 169 Wynne Prakusya, Irawati Moerid Iskandar (542), Wukirasih Sawondari (547) and Yayuk Basuki, who aims to make a comeback to be able to compete in the Olympic Games in Sydney in September.
While New Zealand will play Leanne Baker (326), Rewa Hudson (374), Shelley Stephens (392) and Niki Ippins (468).
"I'm glad we are in group B. I think all rivals are tough and we must be prepared for each match. We must focus our attention on one match after another. We really have to work hard to win in the group," said Yayuk, who reached a world ranking of 21 in mid- 1998.
Indonesia is in pool B with China, which is spearheaded by Li Fang and Yi Jingqian, Chinese Taipei, which is led by Wang Shi- ting and Janet Lee, Singapore, New Zealand and South Korea. Pool A consists of Japan, Thailand, India, Hong Kong and Kazakhstan.
Indonesia will face South Korea on Wednesday, challenge China Thursday, meet Chinese Taipei on Friday and see Singapore on Saturday. The top-placed teams from each pool will compete in a playoff on Sunday for a place in the world group next season.
AFP reported top-seeded Japan, led by Ai Sugiyama, would take on fourth-seeded Thailand, led by Tamarine Tanasugarn.
Japanese team captain Takeshi Koura expressed relief at having avoided China, Chinese Taipei and Indonesia.
"It would have been tough to play them, but all of them were drawn in the other pool. Tamarine Tanasugarn is our only big rival. My players have never lost to other Thai players."
"If we can move into top gear toward Saturday and Sunday, I'm sure we will win. Hopefully, we can start the 21st century in the World Group," Koura added.
The countries which finish last in the two pools will be relegated to Group Two next year.
In Group Two this year, Uzbekistan was seeded number one and will face Iraq, Malaysia, Pacific Oceania and Fiji in pool A. The Philippines was seeded second and will compete against Sri Lanka, Syria, Jordan, Tajikistan and Pakistan in pool B.
The top two teams from each pool will advance to a playoff round and two countries will be promoted to Group One next year. (yan)
Order of play
Group One
April 25: pool A - Tha vs Ind, Kaz vs Hkg, pool B - Chn vs Kor, Ina vs Nzl, Tpe vs Sin
April 26: Jpn vs Ind, Kaz vs Tha, Chn vs Sin, Nzl vs Tpe, Ina vs Kor
April 27: Jpn vs Hkg, Ind vs Kaz, Chn vs Ina, Sin vs Nzl, Kor vs Tpe
April 28: Jpn vs Kaz, Tha vs Hkg, Chn vs Nzl, Ina vs Tpe, Sin vs Kor
April 29: Jpn vs Tha, Ind vs Hkg, Chn vs Tpe, Sin vs Ina, Nzl vs kor
April 30: pool A winners vs pool B winners
Group Two
April 25: pool A - Uzb vs Pacific Oceania, Mas vs Fij, pool B - Phi vs Jor, Syr vs Tad, Sri vs Pak
April 26: Pacific Oceania vs Fij, Irq vs Mas, Phi vs Pak, Jor vs Tad, Sri vs Syr
April 27: Uzb vs Fij, Irq vs Pacific Oceania, Phi vs Tad, Sri vs Jor, Syr vs Pak
April 28: Mas vs Uzb, Fij vs Irq, Phi vs Syr, Sri vs Tad, Jor vs Pak
April 29: Uzb vs Irq, Mas vs Pacific Oceania, Phi vs Sri, Syr vs Jor, Tad vs Pak
April 30: pool A first vs pool B second, pool B first vs pool A second