Indonesia trails 0-2 in Davis Cup

JAKARTA (JP): A weakened Indonesian team was on the brink of a Davis Cup humiliation when it lost 0-2 to host Chinese Taipei in the first day of competition yesterday.

Bonit Wiryawan, returning to the team after a year's absence, fought a tough battle before crashing to a 5-7, 4-6, 3-6 defeat to Taiwan's number one Tsai Cia Yen in the competition's first singles match.

The Taiwanese, smarting from their losses to Indonesia in their three last meetings, clinched a morale boosting win in the second singles match when Chen Chih Jun tamed Andrian Raturandang in straight sets, 6-4, 6-0, 6-3.

Indonesia's fate will be decided by its doubles team of Sulistyo Wibowo and Sebastian da Costa who will play Taiwan's Chen and Lien Yu Hui in today's only match. If Indonesia loses, it will be eliminated from the Asia Oceania Group I for the first time in 25 years.

The Indonesians, looked drained after competing in the National Games at home a week before. Although they matched their opponents stroke for stroke, they faltered on crucial points.

Bonit started well when he broke Tsai for a 2-0 lead in the first set. But the Taiwanese player bounced back with cross- passing shots that helped him win three successive games and take the lead. Bonit pulled level at 5-5, before a merciless Tsai increased the speed, wearing out his tiring opponent.

Andrian played with courage, but lacked accuracy in his error- ridden match. He was left trailing throughout the game, without any room to gain ground.

Taiwanese non-playing captain Hwang Moon Choul said at a press conference after the matches that he had never expected to go this far in the early stage of the duel. (amd)