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