Romana to get tennis lesson in Fed Cup opener
Romana to get tennis lesson in Fed Cup opener
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's number two Romana Tedjakusuma will enter a David and Goliath type singles match against Argentine world number seven Gabriela Sabatini in tomorrow's Federation Cup battle.
In yesterday's draw, presided over by International Tennis Federation's referee Bill Gilmour, Indonesian number one Yayuk Basuki was chosen to play Argentine number two Florencia Labat in the second singles match, which will be played at the Senayan indoor tennis stadium on the same day.
Sunday's program will feature the long-awaited match of Yayuk and Sabatini, while Romana will face yet another tough match against world number 44 Labat in the other reverse singles.
Yayuk lost to Sabatini in their only meeting in a tournament in the Canadian Open last year. Both were tied 1-1 in two exhibition matches here last October.
In the doubles, Yayuk teams up with Romana against a solid partnership of Sabatini and Patricia Tarabini. Yayuk last formed a triumphant team with Romana in the US$100,000 Wismilak Open in Surabaya, East Java, in September last year.
The tie will be over once a team takes a commanding 3-0 lead.
"The draw is nothing to worry about. I am definitely ready to play anybody," said Yayuk, a regular Federation Cupper since 1985. The Indonesian world number 26 beat Labat in both of their previous meetings, first at Wimbledon in 1992 and then in the 1994 Indonesia Open final.
Argentinean ambassador to Indonesia, Juan Carlos Morelli, national tennis figure Moerdiono, who is also the Minister/State Secretary, president of the National Sports Council Wismoyo Arismmunandar and chairman of the Indonesian tennis association Sarwono Kusumaatmadja were all present at the draw.
Against odds
Romana, despite her uphill challenge, vowed to battle it out against the odds in her first encounter with the 1990 U.S. Open champion. "Sabatini is one of the world's best players, but I'll do what I can," said Romana.
Sabatini refused to underestimate her first opponent, whose rank is 290 places below, saying that she was expecting a tough match.
Sabatini, fresh from her straight sets loss to Spain's Conchita Martinez on Amelia Island, Florida, last week, will make her first Cup appearance after a seven-year absence.
"It's nice to represent my country in this competition and I'm going to show my great tennis here," Sabatini said.
Argentinean non-playing captain Ricardo Rivera also found nothing special with the draw. "The draw doesn't mean anything since our players will meet their Indonesian rivals," he said.
The winning team will qualify for the world group play-off matches for the 1996 Cup race, while the loser will be relegated to the zonal group.
The ITF has adopted the Davis Cup format for the Federation Cup beginning this year. The only difference is that the women play the doubles as the final and possibly decisive rubber, while the Davis Cup doubles will serve as the third match.
Argentina was without Sabatini when it lost to Spain in last year's second round. Indonesia suffered a 3-0 trouncing by Bulgaria in the same round last year. (amd)