Tanri says no favoritism in picking Davis Cup players

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Tennis Association (Pelti) chairman Tanri Abeng said on Tuesday that there would be no favoritism in choosing the members of the Davis Cup team, who will play against Chinese Taipei in the final of Group Two Asia Oceania zone in October.

He said that Pelti wanted to create a competitive environment for senior as well as junior tennis players before it picked the most suitable players to face Chinese Taipei here from Oct. 6 to Oct. 8.

"We want to encourage them to be more competitive. We won't be partial. There won't be any golden boy. They have to show their best form and be competitive. Their chances to be included in this team depends on their achievements," he said.

Tanri told a media briefing on Tuesday that Pelti would decide the team members after four Futures tournaments were held here before the Davis Cup tie. He also said that the association would not spend much to send its top players to compete overseas.

The previous team -- consisting of Suwandi, Febi Widhiyanto and veteran double specialists Bonit Wiryawan and Sulistyo Wibowo -- routed Malaysia 5-0 in the Group Two Davis Cup Asia Oceania zone in Kuala Lumpur last week.

Indonesia has also a prospective junior pair of Edi Kusdaryanto and Hendri Susilo Pramono, but they had to give way to Bonit and Sulistyo when the team played in Malaysia.

After the thrilling rounds in Malaysia, Bonit, Sulistyo and Edi will not be able to compete in other overseas tournaments due to financial restraints.

Suwandi and Febi have found sponsors to finance their overseas stint to improve their world rankings.

"We may compete at home. It's impossible for me to go overseas because I have no money," Sulistyo said, while his partner Bonit added: "I want to compete in international events because as a double pair, I think we can improve our ranking notably in the Asian region. But I am cash-strapped so I think we will compete here."

Suwandi is being sponsored by businesswoman Martina Widjaja while Febi and Hendri are being sponsored by Allianz Life Indonesia insurance company and German airline Lufthansa. Febi and Hendri will fly to Germany to join the Schwetzingen tennis club and compete in the US$15,000 Futures in Reilingen on April 21.

Meanwhile, Martina said she had hired an Australian coach, Chris Johnson, as advisor to Fed Cup team member Yayuk Basuki. "He will be in Jakarta for three weeks. He is preparing Yayuk for this event."

Besides senior Yayuk, Indonesia's Fed Cup team includes another senior women's player Irawati Moerid Iskandar, and Wukirasih Sawondari.

Martina, also the Fed Cup team manager, said Wynne and Irawati were training in Los Angeles in the United States while Wukirasih was in Beijing, China.

Indonesia will take part in the Asia Oceania Group I tie in Osaka, Japan, from April 24 to April 30. The tie will be attended by host Japan, Indonesia, China, Chinese Taipei, South Korea, Thailand, India, Hong Kong, Kazakhstan, New Zealand and Singapore. (ivy)