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)