U.S. tennis coach hired for Asiad
U.S. tennis coach hired for Asiad
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Tennis Association, desperately
seeking affordable foreign coaches to prepare its team for the
Asian Games (Asiad) in December, has struck a deal with American
Matt Willer.
Deputy secretary-general of the tennis body, Subiyanto, said
yesterday that Miller, recruited from tennis coaching agent Peter
Burwash International, would join Austrian coach Gebhard Gritsch,
who has already confirmed his return to the tennis team.
Willer will start his training session after the national
selection for the Asiad, scheduled for April 14 to April 17.
Unlike Gritsch, Subiyanto said the American agreed in the
terms of his contract to receive a salary in rupiah instead of
the U.S. dollar. The contract lasts until after the Asian Games.
Subiyanto refused to disclose the contract's value.
Gritsch, who resigned last month and returned to his homeland,
agreed to return to the team after the tennis body accepted his
salary proposal of $8,500 per month, down from $12,500 monthly
previously. Subiyanto said the approval was made after National
Sports Council promised to provide Rp 100 million ($10,000) in
financial assistance.
The rupiah has suffered a 70 percent devaluation since the
monetary crisis hit the region in July last year.
Subiyanto said Gritsch would coach an expected 10 players
tentatively set for the national team, and Willer would handle
others who passed the selection matches. Only Yayuk Basuki, the
world's 27th ranked woman, is currently assured a place on the
team.
Chairman of the tennis body Sarwono Kusumaatmadja reiterated
yesterday his preference for foreign coaches over locals, saying
that the latter had yet to acquire the skills needed to train
advanced players.
"Local coaches are merely good at basic skills and techniques
but they fail to keep up with foreign counterparts when it comes
to developing the players' further performance," he said after
opening the Indonesia Astra International junior tennis
championships at the Hilton tennis complex.
Febi Widhiyanto led five host players into the second round
yesterday. Febi, currently 77th on the International Tennis
Federation rankings, beat South African's Evan Fowler 6-2, 6-3,
to meet compatriot Naharuddin, who edged out Karan Doctor of
India 6-2, 6-4.
Other Indonesian first-round survivors were Mario Ronaldo, who
led 6-3, 3-1 when his opponent Sanzaruz Zaman of India defaulted
due to injury.
Top seeded Jurgen Melzek of Austria and Vijay Kannan of India
also had little trouble in securing their second-round tickets by
defeating two local players. Top seed Melzek, ITF 41st, downed
Ferza Gautama in straight sets 6-2, 6-4 and Kannan trounced Johan
Samawi 6-1, 6-2. (emf)