The Indonesian Fed Cup tennis squad was on Saturday relegated to Asia/Oceania Zone Group II, capping a miserable week that saw the team suffer four consecutive defeats including Saturday’s playoff.
Indonesia had to face Uzbekistan in a playoff just to stay in Group I, having lost to Japan, South Korea and New Zealand in a three days of qualifying matches in Pool A at the National Tennis Center, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Japan went on to win Group I’s Pool A.
On Saturday, Uzbekistan — rock bottom in Pool B — outclassed Indonesia 3-0, retaining its place in Group I while pushing Indonesia down to Group II.
Indonesia’s first single, Lavinia Tananta had no answer to Niqina Abduraimova, going down 6-3, 6-1. Second single Ayu Fani Damayanti compounded the misery as she retired from the game due to injury after trailing 5-0 in the first set.
Already 2-0 down, Indonesia’s doubles Sandy Gumulya/Jessy Rompies fought hard but still went down to Akqul Amanmuradova/Albia Khabibulina 6-4, 7-0 to make it 3-0 to Uzbekistan.
Akgul Amanmuradova is currently world No. 95, while Sabina Sharipova is 415th, Nigina Abduraimova is 489th and Albina Khabibulina is 672nd.
On Indonesia’s front, Ayu is ranked 297 by the WTA, Lavinia Tananta ranks 410, while Jessy Rompies is 458th and Sandy 617th.
The defeat was the first for Indonesia in 6 meetings in Fed Cup qualifiers with Uzbekistan since 1998.
The last time the two met was last year during the Group I qualifying round when Indonesia defeated Uzbekistan 2-1.
Records show that Indonesia has been playing in the Fed Cup since 1969, while Uzbekistan debuted in 1995.
During the three-day group matches that started on Wednesday, Indonesia was defeated 0-3 by Japan that, as expected, won Pool A, and then 1-2 by South Korea the next day, while in Pool B, Uzbekistan lost 0-3 to Thailand and 1-2 to Taiwan.
On Friday, Indonesia lost to New Zealand 3-0 while Uzbekistan lost 1-2 to Kazakhstan.
— JP
