RI seeks to square point against Lebanon
RI seeks to square point against Lebanon
Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Indonesia is set to take on Lebanon in the Davis Cup match
starting on Friday in Surabaya, East Java, with high hopes it
will avenge its loss in their past and only meeting in 1998.
The Indonesian team, then featuring the outgoing Andrian
Raturandang, had to pay dearly for its 2-3 loss in Beirut, being
relegated to Group Two of the Asia-Oceania zone.
The Surabaya contest, in the second round of Group One, is
inevitable following Indonesia's dismal tour of New Zealand in
February when Suwandi lost twice in their 2-3 defeat by the host.
Indonesia and Lebanon now meet again in less than four years
with them exchanging venue.
Suwandi, Febi Widhiyanto, Hendri Susilo and Bonit Wiryawan are
poised for a three-day battle at the Embong Sawo tennis hard
courts against Hussein Malek Badreddine, Ali Hamadeh, Patrick
Chucri and Fadi Youssef.
As the hosting team, Indonesia must see it as a well-timed
occasion to square the score.
"I guess we hold 60 percent against 40 percent," Ferry
Raturandang, a tennis observer, said when asked about the odds.
He said being less informed about the opponents' strength, the
Tintus Ariwibowo-led team rely totally on its own potential to
get through.
Given the visiting team's lineup, which includes American-
based players Ali Hamadeh and Patrick Chucri, Ferry, who is also
an official of the country's tennis governing body, was not
fazed .
He viewed a different opinion, saying the two players, getting
used to playing under relatively cold conditions on the American
soil, may be unable to endure the heat of Surabaya.
Looking at the rankings in which the Indonesians are above the
Lebanese, Ferry said he was confident Indonesia must come out the
winner.
Though, he lamented the absence of Peter Handoyo, the only
player who contributed points for the team in New Zealand.
He hinted he would have been more confident with Peter in the
team instead of Bonit.
The inclusion of Bonit will prompt a change in the role
prominently by doubles specialist Febi Widhiyanto.
The 22-year-old, who won the recent Cigna Open at the expense
of Suwandi, will now stand in Peter's place as the second singles
player after Suwandi.
This leaves his doubles partner Hendri Susilo to team up in a
makeshift pairing with Bonit.
Despite being paired for the first time, they, according to
Ferry, should not be underestimated. "They trained together
before the matches," he said.