Indonesia vs Chinese Taipei in Fed Cup final playoff

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia moved one step closer to the World Group qualifying round after emerging as the pool champion to challenge host Chinese Taipei in the final playoff at Yang Min Tennis Center in Kao Hsiung, Chinese Taipei, on Saturday.

Indonesian team manager Martina Widjaja voiced guarded optimism with her team's chances, saying that both teams had equal opportunity in the final round.

"Insya Allah (God willing), we hope that we can win both singles matches. If we tie 1-1 in the singles, I believe we can win the doubles match, because we have a strong doubles team," she told The Jakarta Post by phone from Kao Hsiung.

She said Indonesia would field second singles Romana Tedjakusuma in the first match and top player Wynne Prakusya. Veteran Yayuk Basuki and Wynne will team up in the doubles.

Martina said that the toughest challenge would come from the host's top player Janet Lee, who often partners Wynne in doubles team matches in international events.

"We will fight all-out. We have observed Chinese Taipei's playing against Uzbekistan this Friday," she said.

The host team beat Uzbekistan 3-0 in its latest match to finish first in pool B. Indonesia beat India 3-0 on Thursday to top pool A. Indonesia gets a day off on Friday.

The winner of the playoff will advance to the World Group Relegation Ties to be played on home and away basis in July. The relegation is to determine which team will be relegated or promoted to the 2002 World Group.

On Thursday, Indonesian women's tennis player Romana Tedjakusuma overcame Indian Manisha Malhotra 6-4, 6-2 followed by Indonesia's No. 1 player Wynne Prakusya, who worked hard before ousting Nirupama Vaidyanathan 7-6 (10-8), 6-7 (6-8), 6-4.

The partnership of Yayuk and Romana sealed the team's victory after overpowering Jayaram Sai Jayalakshmi and Rushmi Chakravarti 7-5, 6-1.(ivy)