Korea out to break Davis Cup jinx
Korea out to break Davis Cup jinx
JAKARTA (JP): South Korea is out to break its jinx in its
Davis Cup clash in Indonesia, non-playing captain Yeon Yoong-dai
said yesterday.
Yeon told reporters before his team's work-out at the Senayan
tennis complex yesterday that a 3-2 win over hosts Indonesia in
their Asia/Oceania zone first round duel looks realistic.
"Due to the absence of Benny Wijaya, our chances of winning
look better," Yeon said. Former Indonesia's number one Benny led
his team to a 4-1 win over the South Koreans here in 1994. Benny
was axed from the national team last year following him signing a
contract with a Taiwanese club.
The Davis Cup duel will take place at the Senayan clay court
stadium from Feb. 9 to Feb. 11. The draw will be conducted on
Feb. 8.
Yeon said he expected to take two matches from his second
singles and seal the victory in the deciding doubles. "But I'm
not sure because Indonesia will parade its newcomers," Yeon said.
South Korea's four-manned team led by Yeon arrived here on
Monday evening, 11 days before the matches.
Yeon said that his team came that early in order to adapt to
the hot weather here. "In Korea, it's 10 degree below zero," he
said, "We have to get used to the weather here."
South Korea has lost in all of its four Davis Cup matches
here. Indonesia has also crashed in its four Korean outings.
Yeon said his side's backbone, Lee Hyung-taik and Yoon Yong-
il, would be fit for the matches after taking part in the
Australian Open recently.
"They're used to the hot weather and they're still in good
shape," he added. Yeon's side also includes Chang Eui-jong,
doubles finalist in the 1994 Asian Games in Hiroshima, and Davis
Cup debutant Kim Dong-hyun, men's singles winner in the Asian
Championships in Manila last year.
Yeon said that the biggest trouble for his team will come from
Indonesia's first singles Suwandi, Indonesia's 18th Southeast
Asian Games veteran. Other SEA Games team members Adrian
Raturandang and Eddy Kusdaryanto and Indonesia's best doubles
specialist Donny Susetyo complete the national Davis Cup team
line-up.
Indonesian coach Deddy Prasetyo indicated on Monday that he
would pick either Adrian or Eddy to play the second singles.
Indonesia's non-playing captain Wailan Walalangi said that the
South Koreans considered Suwandi its only threat.
"It's good because our other players will be free from
excessive pressure during the match," he said yesterday.
"Frankly, I have to admit that South Korea always come here
with their best players who have similar skills to our players,"
he added. (05)