Indonesian boys qualify for World Cup tennis

Indonesian boys qualify for World Cup tennis

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian boys tennis team yesterday secured a place at the World Youth Cup finals in Essen, Germany, next September.

The girls clinched their spot early on Friday.

Feby Widhiyanto's 6-3, 6-4 win yesterday gave the Indonesian boys team a decisive 2-0 lead over New Zealand, and a place in the World Youth Cup finals.

Had it not rained heavily, Feby would have finished his match against Marc Paulik on Friday, which was suspended at 6-3, 3-4 (15-0). Feby took only ten minutes to end Paulik's struggle.

Trailing 3-4 (15-0) the day before, Feby easily leveled the points at 4-4 and advanced to victory without giving Paulik a chance to add a single point.

Peter Handoyo gave Indonesia a 1-0 lead after his sharp 7-5, 1-6, 7-5 win over James Shotall on Friday.

In the boys' doubles, which was no longer decisive, Shotall and Paulik succeeded to force Feby and Hendri Sulilo Pramono to concede 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 defeat.

The 2-1 win over New Zealand enables Indonesia to take on the Australian boys in today's semifinals. Australia crushed Malaysia 3-0 on Friday.

South Korea and Chinese Taipei are the other semifinalists. Korea advanced to semis after eclipsing India 3-0. Chinese Taipei beat China 2-1 to make it this far.

Indonesian girls yesterday consummated their victory after doubles Liza Andriyani and Wynne Prakusya pipped Thailand's Busrin Boontemlaew and Montika Anuchan 6-2, 6-1.

In today's girls semis, Indonesia will face Japan, who clipped their Australian opponents 2-1.

The other girls semifinalists are the Philippines, who whipped South Korea 3-0, and China who also trashed New Zealand 3-0.

In 1992, the Indonesian girls advanced to the World Youth Cup finals in Barcelona, Spain, and finished 12th. The Indonesian boys were ranked seventh, but finished 12th in the 1993 finals in New Zealand. (arf)