RI gears up for Davis Cup play-off match against China
RI gears up for Davis Cup play-off match against China
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Davis Cup team will take a week
off before preparing for its Davis Cup Asia Oceania play-off
match against China in April.
Non-playing captain Wailan Walalangi said yesterday that after
Monday's 1-4 defeat by South Korea, his team of four will restart
their centralized training session next Monday under coach Deddy
Prasetyo.
"Six weeks of training should be more than enough to polish
the team," Wailan said. "We only had three weeks of effective
training for the match against South Korea," he added.
Indonesia looks certain to receive the choice of ground for
the play-off match, scheduled from April 5 to April 7, because
China was the host in their last Davis Cup in 1990.
"Chinese players are not as tough as South Koreans. We have a
great chance to beat them if our six-week training program works
well," said Wailan.
China outclassed Indonesia 4-1 in their Davis Cup second-round
duel in Beijing. China has to face Indonesia in April's play-off
after losing 1-4 to New Zealand over the weekend.
Wailan said that he planned to focus on basic training and
building his players' confidence after the home defeat. "I was
surprised that they lost their characteristic play in the South
Korean rout," he said.
Indonesia fielded two newcomers in the first-round duel over
the weekend. "It was a difficult decision but we had to do it,"
Wailan said.
The chairman of the Indonesian Tennis Association defended the
decision to pick Eddy Kusdaryanto and Andrian Raturandang, but
Wailan hinted yesterday that Indonesia could have beaten South
Korea if more experienced players had made up his team.
Indonesia was led by Benny Wijaya in its last win over South
Korea in 1994. Benny also helped the team to reach the World
Group qualifying round in the same year, but crashed to
Switzerland.
"Frankly, we need players of the same standard as Benny,"
Wailan said. However, Wailan dismissed any chance for the former
Indonesian number one to join his team. "He has already rejected
my offer," Wailan said. (amd)