RI teens continue their unbeaten run
RI teens continue their unbeaten run
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian youths maintained their winning streak at the World Youth Cup Asia Oceania qualifying round tennis team championships with a 3-0 crushing of Hong Kong yesterday.
The home favorites secured their victory and a place in the quarterfinals when Feby Widhiyanto outlasted Jason Sankey 4-6, 6- 3, 6-1 in a heated match played under the blistering sun at the Senayan tennis court.
Indonesia had earlier taken a 1-0 lead, thanks to first singles Peter Handoyo's 6-3, 6-0 steamrolling over tiny Wayne Wong. Peter then teamed up with Hendri Susilo in the final and indecisive rubber to beat Wong and Sankey 6-3, 6-4.
"It's an important confidence boosting win in our bid to make a trip to the World Youth Cup next September," national coach Dedy Prasetyo said.
All semifinalists will automatically qualify for the finals in Essen, Germany. The annual tournament for under-16 players will field 16 teams in both female and male events.
Slow starter Feby did everything right during his power play against Sankey except in the first set when he allowed too many unforced errors. A careless gambling of playing a safe game cost Feby a crucial ninth game.
Smarting from a first-set loss, the 15-year-old Indonesian dictated a number of rallies from the baseline in the second set. Both baseliners broke and dropped two games each before Feby managed to capitalize on Sankey's weakening form.
Feby maintained his pace with efficient drop shots to make tiring Sankey run and set up a stretched set. A desperate Sankey labored to stage a comeback, but he had already ran out of too much steam to match Feby's deep shots.
"I avoided answering his power play in the last two sets since I'm not fast enough to match his big strokes," said an elated Feby.
The Indonesian youths join their female teammates, seeded first in this week-long tournament, to march into today's quarterfinals.
Dedy said the girls have a better chance to win a ticket to Essen than the boys. "My girls are more experienced in international events," said Dedy.
Indonesia capped its World Youth Cup run in 1992 in Barcelona when its youths finished seventh. They entered the 1992 finals as the Asia Oceania zone winners. (amd)