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)