Indonesia to retain winning Davis Cup team

Indonesia to retain winning Davis Cup team

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Tennis Association (Pelti)
announced on Thursday the team that will face Uzbekistan early
next year in the Davis Cup Group I Asia Oceania zone tie.

Indonesia will keep its winning team -- Suwandi, Hendri Susilo
Pramono, Bonit Wiryawan and Sulistyo Wibowo -- from its Group II
match against Chinese Taipei in October. Indonesia defeated
Chinese Taipei 4-1 to earn a promotion to Group I.

Pelti official in charge of athlete development, Sudjiono
Timan, said during a breaking the fast event the players were
named to the team based on a strategy, not merely on their
national rankings.

"We want to retain the team that won the last Davis Cup tie
against Chinese Taipei. We realize that Uzbekistan is a strong
team," he said.

Indonesia is scheduled to meet Uzbekistan from Feb. 9 to Feb.
11 in Jakarta, most likely at the Kemayoran Tennis Center in
Central Jakarta.

"Suwandi has had some awesome achievements. Hendri was
brilliant against Taipei but he may not be fit enough to play
five sets. During his five-set match against Taipei he had foot
cramps.

"Discussing the doubles, we decided not to play Suwandi
because he doesn't have a permanent partner. We also think that
Hendri will not be ready to play both singles and doubles with
partner Febi Widhiyanto over three consecutive days.

"Therefore we named our veteran doubles team of Bonit and
Sulistyo. They are more experienced, disciplined and consistent.
They are physically and mentally strong and they can set a good
example for the younger players."

Sudjiono further defended Pelti's choice of Bonit and
Sulistyo, saying the younger players were less disciplined.

"In a 1999 Satellite event here, I had to argue with the
umpire because a young Indonesian player was 30 minutes late to
the court for a match that should have began at 9:30 a.m. We did
not announce it to the public, but Pelti officials just can't
accept such an attitude."

Suwandi, Bonit and Sulistyo have signaled their willingness to
represent Indonesia in the Davis Cup match.

"We're still waiting for Hendri's response. If he refuses the
offer, we will ask Febi and should Febi also refuse we will try
to approach other players like Peter Handoyo, Andrian Raturandang
or even veteran Dede Suhendar," Sudjiono said.

Nonplaying captain Tintus Arianto Wibowo said only Suwandi was
really prepared for the match.

"This year alone, Suwandi competed in five Satellite and
Futures tournaments abroad, while others only trained at home.
Suwandi can compete abroad because he borrows money from Ibu
Martina Wijaya (Pelti's head of development, promotion and
international relations) to finance his trips."

Tintus, a former national player, also said the players were
free to choose their own coaches. "It's OK for me if all the
players train together one week before the first match. They can
all train with their coaches." (ivy)