Suwandi off to fine start on national selection trail

JAKARTA (JP): A rejuvenated Suwandi, bronze medalist at last year's Southeast Asian Games in Chiang Mai, Thailand, got off to a blistering start as he breezed past Muhamad Syahid, 6-4, 6-2 on the opening day of the preselection tournament for the national tennis team at the Senayan clay courts yesterday.

It was painfully clear from the outset that Suwandi had too much firepower for the little-known Syahid, who only managed to put up any resistance in the first set.

Syahid faded badly in the second set, allowing Suwandi to dominate proceedings. With an array of well-aimed top spins and powerful groundstrokes Suwandi wrong footed Syahid time and again.

The two games won by the fast-tiring Syahid in the second set came courtesy of unforced errors by his higher-ranked adversary.

"To tell you the truth I haven't got used yet to playing on clay. I had a little difficulty getting into my stride in the first set because of the slow court," Suwandi said after the match.

Asked about his chances of rejoining the national team, the 19-year-old West Javanese said for now he would only concentrate on doing well in the on-going tournament in order to qualify for the next selection trial on Dec. 2.

Sixteen players are competing in the current preselection event. They are divided into four groups. The best eight of them win the right to compete against the eight national players, who are members of the national squad formed following last year's selection matches.

Suwandi, the top seed in the preselection tournament, is in Group B with old-war horse Yustejo Tarik, Abdul Kahar MIM and Syahid. In his second match, Suwandi is to take on Yustejo, 42, today.

Yustejo, the 1982 New Delhi Asian Games champion, lost out 1- 6, 3-6 to Abdul Kahar yesterday.

In another match yesterday, Yusmawan Fahmi from Central Java defeated Surya Wijaya from Lampung, 6-4, 7-5. It was the most interesting match of the day, with fortunes fluctuating as the two players fought to outwit each other in an absorbing duel lasting about two hours.

Surya, who trailed 4-5 in the second set, drew level at 5-5 after breaking Yusmawan's serve. But Yusmawan regained the lead when a passing shot executed with deadly accuracy and precision pierced through his rival's defense. He closed out the match when Surya shot wide.

The preselection tournament winds up tomorrow. Yesterday's other results: Group A: Tjahyono beat Jeffri Trihandiansyah, 6-1, 6-3 ; Haryadi Lesmana beat Mulyadi 7-6 (6- 2), 6-4; Group C: Eddy Kusdaryanto beat Hendri Susilo, 3-6, 6-0, 6-3. Group D: Donny Susteyo beat Stanley Sanger, 6-1, 6-2. (bas)