Indonesia too strong for Chinese Taipei

Indonesia too strong for Chinese Taipei

JAKARTA (JP): Donny Susetyo and Teddy Tanjung displayed their
best doubles mastery to secure Indonesia a 3-0 unassailable lead
over Chinese Taipei yesterday in the Davis Cup Asia-Oceania Group
One play-off.

In the first reverse singles, Suwandi confirmed Indonesia's
supremacy over the Taiwanese with a 6-4, 7-5 win, to put his team
4-0 ahead.

Cool-headed Suwandi maintained his characteristic baseline
game, overcoming Chinese Taipei's ace Chen Chih-jung in the
reverse singles match, which was marked by numerous broken
services.

Chen stepped on to the Senayan tennis stadium's clay court to
challenge Suwandi's tenacity just an hour after his defeat in the
doubles.

Bonit Wiryawan, however, failed to go on from an initial 5-0
drubbing and was beaten 1-6, 6-3, 3-6 by Chen Wei-ju.

Heavy rain led to the suspension of Saturday's decisive rubber
when the Indonesians were two sets up and trailing 3-4 in the
third set. The best national doubles players conceded a set as
they resumed their interrupted match against Chen Chih-jung and
Lien Yu-hui before claiming a 6-2, 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 win.

The victory means Indonesia remains a contender for the 1996
World Group qualifying round.

The visiting team finally managed a consolation win when Chen
Wei-ju outsmarted a lack-luster Bonit in under two hours. Bonit
was subjected to repeated jeers from his home fans for allowing
too many floating returns.

"Yet, we are quite satisfied with the result. We have
successfully completed one of our toughest tasks this year," an
elated Sarwono Kusumaatmadja, chairman of the Indonesian Tennis
Association, said.

"Coming up is the Federation Cup. We hope that both our men's
and women's teams maintain their peak performance since we are
preparing for the Southeast Asian Games," Sarwono added.

Yayuk Basuki and company are slated for a World Group
qualifying round battle against a Gabriela Sabatini-led
Argentinean team at the end of this month, also at the Senayan
tennis stadium.

Mistakes

According to the national team coach, Wailan Walalangi, Donny
and Teddy should have made short work of their Taiwanese
opponents but committed too many unnecessary mistakes.

Donny, who admitted to losing his grip because of the
overnight suspension of his match, dropped his serve to give the
third set to the Taiwanese. But the Indonesian young guns quickly
regrouped to break Lien Yu-hui's serve and fought gallantly to
save their service games.

"I regained my confidence as soon as we broke their serve at
the beginning of the final set. Everything ran as planned after
that," said Donny. "Teddy gave me a tremendous back-up throughout
the match," he said of his teammate of two years.

This is the second Davis Cup appearance for both Donny and
Teddy. The first was in South Korea last February, when Indonesia
was drubbed 5-0.

In yesterday's match, Suwandi appeared to be taking it easy in
his match against a hopeless Taiwanese. The Indonesian number
two, who employed his blistering backhand drives, handed Chen
Chih-jung three broken serves in the opening set. Suwandi
repeatedly netted his strokes, which cost him two service-
breaking games.

The Indonesian South East Asian Games gold medalist, Suwandi,
double-faulted when serving for a win, leaving Chen forcing a
stretched set.

"Suwandi was not in top form, after recently spending a month
in the U.S. because of a study commitment," coach and non-playing
captain Wailan said. (amd)