RI hosts Switzerland on rebound-ace court
RI hosts Switzerland on rebound-ace court
JAKARTA (JP): Host Indonesia has opted to use the rebound-ace
court at Senayan tennis indoor stadium for its Davis Cup World
Group qualifying round matches against giant Switzerland next
month for long-term strategic reasons.
Eddie Katimansah, secretary general of the Indonesian Tennis
Association (Pelti), said yesterday the Benny Wijaya-led team
will not be under pressure to win the five-tie battle. Instead,
Pelti wants the matches to serve as the final testing ground for
the Indonesian team before it enters the Asian Games tennis
competitions, Eddie added.
The tennis competition in the continent's greatest sporting
meet in Hiroshima, Japan, in October will use a hard court
surface, more or less the same type as that in the Senayan tennis
stadium.
"Whatever surface we choose, the Swiss Davis Cup team will be
a very tough challenge," Eddie said. "We have a target of forcing
them to labor all the way."
Indonesia used to choose clay courts to host a Davis Cup tie,
and history has proven that the choice of a slow court has helped
Indonesia win. Things will be different when Indonesia has to
play Switzerland on a harder surface.
Eddie said winning gold medals in the Asian Games is a more
realistic goal than beating Switzerland, a losing finalist to the
United States in 1992.
"Playing a world-rated team is a rare and precious experience
since we are preparing for the Asiad," Eddie said. "Just imagine
how much money we would need to invite world's best players for a
sparring session with us," the national tennis figure joked.
Special assignment
Benny, Suwandi, Bonit Wiryawan and Donny Susetyo, the backbone
for the national Davis Cup team, will have a four-week tour in
four cities in Indonesia from Aug. 20 to Sept. 18 before meeting
with Switzerland.
"The coach now has a special assignment to lead his players to
gain their peak form during the Asian Games," Eddie said.
The national team for the men's tennis team championship will
be coached by Wailan Walalangi who brought Indonesia to a narrow
3-2 win over South Korea last May for a place in the World Group
qualifying round.
Indonesia-Switzerland matches will be held in three sessions
from Sept. 23-to Sept. 25. The European side will likely parade
Olympic gold medalist Marc Rosset, a towering two-meter player
ranked 19 in the world, and currently world number 57 Jakob
Hlasek. Both formed a triumphant team in the 1992 French Open.
Winner of the three-day matches will secure a place in the
1995 World Group which fields 16 of the world's best tennis
playing countries. Switzerland was one of eight teams relegated
from the World Group last year.
Indonesia entered the elite group twice in 1982 and 1988 by
beating South Korea, but lost to Sweden and Germany respectively.
(amd)