Kiwis lead RI 2-0 in 2nd round Davis Cup tie

JAKARTA (JP): New Zealand lead Indonesia 2-0 after the opening day of the second round of the Asia Oceania Zone Group I Davis Cup tie at the Senayan tennis courts here yesterday.

New Zealand's second singles player Mark Nielsen, world-ranked 553, defeated Indonesia's first singles Suwandi, ranked 740, 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 in two hours and 25 minutes.

First singles Alistair Hunt blasted Indonesia's second singles Andrian Raturandang 6-3, 6-0, 6-3 in one hour and 44 minutes.

Playing before almost 200 spectators, the 20-year-old Suwandi gave everything he had against the 19-year-old Nielsen.

Nielsen led 3-1 before Suwandi equalized and took over the lead at 4-3.

But Nielsen fought back and to lead 5-4. Suwandi worked hard to equalize the score 5-5, but spoiled his chance when Nielsen broke his serve to lead 6-5.

The 1.82 meter-tall New Zealander, who seemed exhausted in the heat, won the first set 7-5.

In the second set, Nielsen developed his heavy spin drives which left Suwandi making unforced errors. Nielsen won the set in 6-3.

In the last set, Suwandi's performance suffered from the pressure and he lost 4-6.

"Nielsen was much better. His groundstrokes were excellent and very hard. I was greatly pressured by his play," Suwandi told a press conference.

"I didn't expect to see that Nielsen had progressed so fast since I had beaten him two years ago. I failed to anticipate his improvement," he said.

Suwandi only produced one ace and one double fault while Nielson served no aces and six double faults.

Nielsen, who lost to Suwandi in the Indonesia Satellite tournament in 1995, said his play had improved more than Suwandi's.

"He (Suwandi) still had the same good performance as he did two years ago but today my groundstrokes were better," he said.

Indonesia's second singles Andrian, ranked 826, said his opponent Hunt, ranked 285, played much better.

"Hunt was much better and stronger. He's so tall and big and more experienced. His serves were the key to winning the game," Andrian said.

Hunt, whose height is 1.88m and weight is 85kgs, served nine aces and six double faults while the 1.72m Andrian had no aces and three double faults.

"It's true that I rely on my serves," said Hunt.

Doubles

Indonesian Tennis Association chairman Sarwono Kusumaatmadja said after watching the match that Suwandi and Andrian had played their best.

"They didn't play badly today but they couldn't overcome their contenders," he said. "I think they have had enough preparation for the match, but they don't have enough experience against big players like them. They need more tournament experience."

Atet said Indonesian players failed to force the New Zealanders for rallies because they had been under pressure.

"How can we force for rallies if our rivals have put us under such pressure," he said.

Sarwono said he was confident that the Indonesian doubles team of Bonit Wiryawan and Sulistyo Wibowo would win today.

"Although we lost 0-2 today we'll do our best to win the doubles tomorrow to get one point. As we know, our doubles are the best in Asia and the game is not over yet," said Indonesia's team manager and non-playing captain Atet Wijono.

Sarwono led the team to a come-back victory against the Philippines in February. "We were down 0-2 after the first day but we fought back and took over the lead 3-2. I hope they can all do that again," Atet said.

New Zealand non-playing captain Jeff Simpson said he would evaluate the doubles formation in an internal meeting last night.

"We're gonna have to earn three points first," he said.

New Zealand will field James Greenhalgh and Glenn Wilson in the doubles match today, which is scheduled to start at 12:00 p.m.

"I don't know much about Indonesian doubles 'cause I haven't seen them play. But Greenhalgh/Wilson are our best team," he said.

The winner of the tie will be promoted to the World Group qualifying round.

Simpson said he was disappointed by the size of the crowd because he had "expected more people to watch the match".

Daily tickets cost Rp 5,000 (US$2) and three-day tickets cost Rp 10,000. (yan)