Indonesia trails 0-2 in Davis Cup

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)