South Korea defies tropical climate in Davis Cup duel
South Korea defies tropical climate in Davis Cup duel
JAKARTA (JP): The South Korean Davis Cup squad said that they
had no problems with Jakarta's hot climate as they geared up for
the second round of the Asia Oceania qualifying round.
There, they will be put up against host Indonesia. The match
is scheduled for May 6-8.
"We have been accustomed to playing in a hot climate," said
non-playing captain Kim Choon-ho during a training session at
Senayan tennis court yesterday. Weather in South Korea, during
the spring, is between 22 and 25 degrees Celsius.
The South Korean tennis players, national number one Shin Han-
cheol, second best Chang Eui-jong, Yoon Yong-il and Kim Chi-wan,
showed no fatigue when they started their training program 13
hours after their arrival on Monday evening.
Captain Kim, however, declined any pre-match boasting despite
the fact that his side comprised those who routed Indonesia 5-0
in their Davis Cup Asia Oceania qualifying round in Seoul last
year.
"Wait and see," Kim said with a smile as his team was about to
leave after four-hours of light training. Kim added his side was
not taking any special preparations for the upcoming matches,
other than their normal, five-hour-a-day training schedule.
World number 430 Shin, 24, capped his four-year career by
taking the men's singles gold medal in last year's Student Games
in Buffalo, New York. The lanky Chang, rated 436 in the world,
was the doubles winner in several Asian tournaments last year.
Yoon, who turns 21 in September, won both singles and doubles
in the Asia University championships last year. Doubles
specialist Kim collected titles last year in Korean and Malaysian
satellite tournaments.
South Korea will have its fifth encounter with Indonesia in
the men's tennis team championship. They are carrying a 2-2
record. The South Koreans produced a 5-0 rout at home twice to
make amends for their 2-3 defeat in their two outings here.
Indonesia will likely bank on Benny Wijaya and company who
earned a 3-2 away victory over Hong Kong in their first round
match in March.
The three-day tie will be played at the Senayan tennis courts,
the graveyard for the South Koreans in their two previous away
matches.
Poor treatment
Meanwhile, Edy Katimansah, secretary general of the Indonesian
Tennis Association (Pelti), expressed his regret yesterday that
the committee did not treat the South Korean team with the
respect that was their due.
He said he was in the dark about when the South Korean team
would arrive.
"We should feel ashamed that we did not welcome our guests
properly," Edy said. "They should have received garland upon
their arrival at least," he added.
Kim and his team complained that the committee booked rooms at
Kartika Chandra hotel for them instead of Century Park hotel as
scheduled. The Indonesian side is staying at the Century Park,
located near the Senayan tennis court, for a week. The committee
promised to provide rooms for the South Koreans at the three-star
hotel tomorrow.
"Polite hosts usually have rooms for their guests," Edy said.
The committee will sell 3,000 tickets at Rp 10,000 (US$4.68)
for all three matches. No daily tickets will be available. (amd)