No sweat as Indonesia moves to tennis semis

No sweat as Indonesia moves to tennis semis

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (JP): Second seeded Indonesia cruised to
the men's tennis semifinals after a convincing 3-0 victory over
Malaysia at the 20th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games here on Sunday.

Indonesian first singles player Febi Widhiyanto showed no
mercy to Yew Ming Si 6-0, 6-0. Suwandi put the issue beyond
doubt, despite a laborious 6-4, 7-5 win over Malaysian second
singles player Selvam Veerasingarm.

New partners Yusmawan Fahmi and Hendri Susilo Pramono were
tested in their doubles match against Yew and Ramaiyah
Ramachandran, but still could complete the drubbing 6-4, 7-6 (8-
6).

Indonesia will take on the Philippines in the semifinals on
Monday. The Philippines routed Singapore 3-0.

Joseph Lizardo beat Kho Tung Yi 6-1, 6-2, while Bryan Juinio
defeated Chen Chee Yen 7-5, 6-3. The Philippines Michael John and
Cruz Dante had a tough match against Yang Sian and Kho Tung Yi 7-
6, 6-4.

Top seeded Thailand got off to a flying start to its title
defense campaign, thrashing Vietnam 3-0 in the day's most lop-
sided match.

Second best singles Danai Udomchoke beat Truong Quoc Hung 6-1,
6-3, while Thailand's ace Paradorn Srichapan dropped one game
only while trouncing Tran Duc Quinh. A makeshift partnership of
Samrej Vittaya and Naratorn Srichapan overwhelmed Quinh and Hung,
who lost 6-1, 6-4.

Indonesia's coach, Tintus Arianto Wibowo, said his team had a
good chance of defeating the Philippines. The two teams tied in
their last meet in the Davis Cup Jakarta.

"I believe we have a great chance. Febi played outstandingly
this morning. His victory over Lizardo will be very decisive in
our bid to reach the final," he said.

Febi was upbeat about the rematch with Lizardo, who beat him
in five sets in their Davis Cup clash.

"I took him to the limit and almost beat him in the Davis Cup.
Now it's the right time for revenge," said 19-year-old Febi.

"We are playing on a plexi pave court, not a rebound ace one,
on which we lost to the Philippines."

National women's team coach Suharyadi said Indonesia would be
able to overcome Malaysia in Monday's second round. Malaysia beat
Vietnam 3-0 in Sunday's opening round, in which Indonesia
received a bye.

Wynne Prakusya, who will lead her team the Malaysians, was
equally confident.

"Technically we are better than Malaysia. We'll try hard to
beat them and win the gold," she said. (yan)