Motomura upsets RI, brings Japan to 3-2 win in Davis Cup

Motomura upsets RI, brings Japan to 3-2 win in Davis Cup

Zakki Hakim and M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Gouichi Motomura showed the meaning of perseverance when he
upset Prima Simpatiaji 5-7, 2-6, 6-4, 6-2, 6-3, and scored a 3-2
win for Japan against Indonesia here on Sunday in the first round
of the Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Group I tie.

Motomura was behind two sets to love before he slowly overtook
Prima in the third set and radically changed the atmosphere at
the Bung Karno Tennis Open Stadium, Central Jakarta.

"I was playing against myself," said the 30-year-old Japanese.

Motomura said he simply could not concentrate during the first
two sets, due to the cheering crowd and humidity.

Some 1,000 home fans at the stadium were sure that Indonesia
would defeat Japan, with 22-year old Prima showing a superb
opening play, dominating Motomura and racing ahead with a two-
love lead, during which he hit at least 10 aces.

Motomura's turning point came in the third set, when he broke
Prima in the fifth game with 3-2, then went on to take two
straight games at a 5-2 lead, before leaving the Indonesian in
the dust with 6-4.

In that critical set, Japan's non-playing captain Jun
Kamiwazumi told Motomura not to think about winning and instead,
try to steal the pace of the game from Prima.

"I freed myself and took the captain's suggestion to make
Prima run from corner to corner to wear him out, even when I was
not in the right position," he said.

During that set, Prima lost his touch and Motomura took
control of the match until the end, silencing the home crowd to
his advantage.

Prima said he was relaxed in the first two sets, but nerves
got him in the third set. "It became worse when Motomura changed
his style. My feet got heavy," he said, apologizing for the loss.

Indonesia's non-playing captain Tintus Arianto Wibowo said he
admired Motomura for his ability to rise from such a
disadvantage, and that the Japanese was a good example for local
players.

Earlier in the day, the mood was on the home side when
Indonesian No. 1 Febi Widhiyanto was declared the winner after
Takahiro Terachi, a last-minute substitute for injured Takao
Suzuki, tore a muscle in his right wrist during the eighth game
of the second set and could not continue play in Sunday's first
reverse singles match.

The match ended with Febi leading 7-5, 3-4, which gave
Indonesia a 2-2 draw, reviving a chance for the host team to win
the Davis Cup tie.

Indonesia had ended Saturday with 1-2 when Terachi, paired
with world No. 74 Thomas Shimada, crushed host pair
Suwandi/Hendri Susilo Pramono 6-4, 7-6 (7/3), 6-1.

Despite its defeat by Japan, Indonesia can keep its spot in
Group I next year if it defeats New Zealand in the second-round
play offs from April 9 to April 11.