Uzbekistan young guns edges RI in Davis Cup
Uzbekistan young guns edges RI in Davis Cup
Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Indonesia's hopes of finally defeating Uzbekistan on home soil
were quashed on Sunday when the younger but higher ranked
visitors took the decisive fifth match in their Davis Cup Asia-
Oceania Zone Group I first round playoff.
Although Indonesia was ahead 2-1 coming into the final day's
singles, Farrukh Dustov and Denis Istomin, both 19, fought off
their opponents and the partisan crowd to win at the Senayan
Hardcourt in Central Jakarta.
It was Uzbekistan's third 3-2 defeat of Indonesia in four
years. They will meet India in the second round.
Dustov overcame cramping and a comeback effort from Suwandi
for a 7-5, 7-5, 4-6, 3-6, 6-3 victory in the rain-delayed first
match.
Istomin, despite playing singles on Friday and with Murad
Inoyatov in the losing doubles match on Saturday, showed no ill
effects as he kept Prima Simpatiaji at bay 7-6 (9-7), 7-6 (7-5),
6-0.
The Uzbeks erupted in joy as another forehand from Prima --
his glaring weakness on the night -- overshot the baseline.
"I was proud that I could contribute a point that brought
Uzbekistan the victory," Istomin said through the team's
interpreter.
He admitted he was nervous with the tie riding on his
shoulders. "But I convinced myself that I had the desire to win."
As the previously raucous crowd silently filed out of the
stands, Prima could only trudge off the court with his head
bowed, no doubt wondering what might have been.
The 24 year old had his chances but was unable to convert at
crucial moments, especially at 5-4 on Istomin's serve with two
set points in the second set. Tellingly, one of the points was
wasted with a forehand error.
Istomin, ranked 756 on the ATP computer, had beaten Suwandi
(820) on Friday, while Prima (987) thrashed Uzbekistan's number
one Dustov (331).
Although Prima kept it close in the first two sets against
Istomin, he was unable to play the attacking game that had left
Dustov frustrated.
Prima wrested a 5-4 lead with a break in the ninth game of the
first set, only to allow Istomin to break back through his double
fault and a volleying error.
Although many games went to deuce, Istomin was the one more
likely to finish them out. Prima's inability to win when ahead
was also evident in the tiebreaks.
Prima opened the second set convincingly by racing to a 3-0
lead. But Istomin's solid backcourt game allowed him to close the
gap and force the tiebreak, which he won.
By the third set, Prima's challenge was spent, and Istomin
took six games in a row.
In the earlier match, Suwandi rallied from two sets down to
force a decider, and the Indonesian Tennis Association's much
criticized choice of the 29-year-old Bandung player appeared to
have paid off.
But Dustov, who had received leg massages as the match dragged
on, came back refreshed after the fourth set break, relying on
his powerful serve to keep him in control. He used his 1.94 meter
height to serve 16 aces, double that of his opponent.
Dustov put paid to Suwandi with a punishing volley.
"I felt tiredness in my legs. But after getting the massage
many times, it became better and better. It was a long and tiring
match," Dustov said.