Yayuk keeps Indonesia in world top 16 group
Yayuk keeps Indonesia in world top 16 group
SALERMO (Agencies): Yayuk Basuki lived up to expectations to
keep Indonesia in contention for a place in the Federation Cup
World Group when she inspired her team to down host Italy 3-2
Sunday evening.
A determined Yayuk teamed up with Romana Tedjakusuma in the
decisive doubles to beat the Italian pair of Adriana Zanetti and
Silvia Farina in straight sets 7-6 (7-4), 6-1. Both teams were
tied 2-2 after four singles matches played on Saturday and early
Sunday.
The Indonesian duo, despite the disadvantage of playing on a
clay court, were forced only to sweat in the opening set, but
then found a much easier way to seal their opponents' fate.
The victory preserved Indonesia's position in Group One and
will give Yayuk and company their second chance to race for a
place in the World Group next year.
Argentina dashed Indonesia's dreams of joining the world's
elite group of eight with a nail-biting 3-2 win in Jakarta in
April. Yayuk scored a memorable victory in her 11th caps in the
women's team competition by upsetting Argentina's Gabriela
Sabatini, then world number seven.
Yayuk has maintained her Fed Cup winning track since the
introduction of the zonal system to the competition this year,
putting Indonesia in command with her two singles victories over
Zanetti on Saturday and Farina on Sunday.
Indonesia, however, allowed Italy to level the tie after
Romana lost in her two singles matches. "I could not expect too
much from Romana," Indonesian manager Wailan Walalangi said.
In Wilmington, North Carolina, the U.S. Fed Cup team used a
doubles victory from Gigi Fernandez and Lindsay Davenport to edge
France 3-2 in their Fed Cup World Group semifinal on Sunday.
The two Americans, who had never teamed before, beat Julie
Halard and Nathalie Tauziat 6-1, 7-6 (7-2) after the two
countries had split two singles matches both on Sunday and
Saturday.
Graf
The Americans will play defending champion Spain on Nov. 25-
26. The Spaniards, who played in their home turf, labored to beat
a Steffi Graf-less Germany 3-2 in Santander.
"This is what you live for," said Fernandez, whose doubles
court savvy complemented Davenport's strength. "The key to
playing doubles well is to have good communication with your
partner. It also doesn't hurt to have good partners with big
serves."
Earlier, in the day's first match, Davenport outslugged an
immobile Mary Pierce, scorching 56 winners in a 6-3, 4-6, 6-0 win
over the world's fourth-ranked singles player, who was hampered
by a foot infection. Pierce needed two injections Sunday morning
to ease the pain.
In Santander, claycourt specialist world number three Conchita
Martinez destroyed Germany's Sabine Hack 6-0, 6-0 to take
champion Spain to the Fed Cup final.
Hack, who sensationally beat world number two Arantxa Sanchez
Vicario in the opening singles Sunday, looked lethargic and was
easily whitewashed by the former Wimbledon champion Martinez.
Sanchez Vicario had got Spain off to a good start, beating
Anke Huber in a tough three-setter 6-3, 1-6, 6-2 to give the
Spaniards a 2-1 lead.
Germany earned some consolation in the doubles with Huber and
Claudia Porwick defeating Maria Antonia Sanchez and Virginia
Ruano 6-2, 6-2, making the final score 3-2.
Results
World Group semis
USA 3 France 2
Spain 3 Germany 2
World Group play-offs
Argentina 5 Australia 0
South Africa 5 Bulgaria 0
Japan 5 Canada 0
Austria 4 Netherlands 1
World Group One play-offs
Czech Rep. 4 Sweden 1
Belgium 3 South Korea 2
Indonesia 3 Italy 2
Slovak Rep. 2 Paraguay 0