Indonesia wins Group A of Fed Cup

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia continued its unbeaten run yesterday when it defeated first-seeded Chinese Taipei 2-1 in round-robin matches at the Federation Cup Asia Oceania Qualifying Group I in Wellington, New Zealand.

Indonesia, winner in group A, will meet Group B's runner-up, Hong Kong, in today's semifinals.

The young Wynne Prakusya won two points for Indonesia in the first singles match and the doubles yesterday, teaming up with Yayuk Basuki, ranked 24th in the world.

Wynne, whose World Tennis Association ranking is only 743, defeated Taipei's Julie Huang, world ranked 457, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2.

Wynne played aggressively and had no trouble overcoming Huang in early games with her two-handed backhands from the baseline.

But at 4-2 in the first set, Wynne lost her form and eventually the set, 4-6.

Wynne changed tactics for the second and third sets. And Huang made many unforced errors off Wynne's high lobs, losing the sets 6-1, 6-2.

In the second singles match Mimma Chernovita, replacing Yayuk, crumbled 0-6 0-6 to Wang Shi-Ting, ranked 40th in the world.

In the deciding match, Wynne and Yayuk, in their first international match together, took little time to defeat Wang and Wen Tzu-Ting, 6-2, 6-2.

Yayuk dominated the net and Wynne took over with sharp ground strokes.

With almost 200 spectators barracking for them, Yayuk and Wynne covered the court with better power, placement and strokes.

In the other semifinal, Taipei will meet China, who beat Thailand 3-0 to win Group B.

Winner of the Group I qualifying round will be promoted to the World Group.

Results

Group A: Indonesia bt Chinese Taipei 2-1 Wynne Prakusya bt Julie Huang 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 Mimma Chernovita lost to Wang Shi-Ting 0-6, 0-6 Wynne Prakusya/Yayuk Basuki bt Wang Shi-Ting/Wen Tzu-Ting 6-2, 6-2

New Zealand bt India 2-1 Rewa Hudson lost to Uzman Khan 2-6, 3-6 Gaye McManus bt Arati Ponnappa 6-3, 6-3 Leanne Baker/Shelley Stephens bt Jahnavi Parekh/Arati Ponnappa 6- 2, 6-2

Group B: China bt Thailand 3-0 Yuan Wen bt Busrin Boontemleaw 6-0, 6-0 Jing Qian Yi bt Phorhathai Suksamran 6-1, 6-0 Li Chen/Yan Chen bt Busrin Boontemleaw/Phorhathai Suksamran 6-2, 6-4

Hong Kong bt Kazakhstan 2-1 Ka Po Tong lost to Tatiana Babina 6-3, 3-6, 4-6 Min Tang bt Alisa Velts 6-0, 6-1 Lara Howes/Min Tang bt Tatiana Babina/Alisa Velts 6-3, 1-6, 6-3