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)