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Fed Cup: Indonesian Women Make Swift Return to Group II After Demotion
Ami Afriatni | February 05, 2012

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Indonesia’s stay in Asia/Oceania Group I was a short one as the country’s Fed Cup team was relegated to Group II just a year after securing promotion.

Indonesia fell 3-0 to Uzbekistan in a relegation playoff on Saturday at the Shenzhen Luohu Tennis Center in Guangdong, China. That loss followed three successive defeats, including two 2-0 sweeps, in group play.

Jessy Rompies opened Saturday’s tie with a 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 loss against Nigina Abduraimova, while Indonesia’s top women’s singles player Ayu Fani Damayanti fell 6-2, 6-1 against Akgul Amanmuradova.

Uzbekistan rounded out the sweep as Abduraimova and Iroda Tulyaganova beat Ayu and Lavinia Tananta 6-1, 6-3 in the doubles match. Indonesia had held a 5-0 all-time record against Uzbekistan going into the tie.

Uzbekistan kept its place in Group I just a year after reaching the promotion playoff final, in which it lost to Japan.

The relegation came a year after Indonesia won all four of its Group II ties in Thailand, beating the Philippines, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan and Hong Kong to secure promotion.

Just as they did the previous year, Indonesia and India will swap places after India won the Group II tournament, which took place at the same venue.

Host nation China, meanwhile, advanced to the World Group II playoffs after beating Kazakhstan 2-0 with singles victories by Peng Shuai and Li Na.

Kresno Merdiko, the Indonesian Lawn Tennis Association’s (Pelti) head of senior athlete development, said the association would search for new talent to revamp the team ahead of next year’s Fed Cup.

“We’ve depended on the same players in the last three Fed Cup ties, so I think we have to send fresh and promising talents to boost the squad,” he said on Sunday. “The Fed Cup is an important tournament for us, so we have a plan to prepare the team as soon as possible for next year’s event.”

He pointed to Under-16 players Tami Grande, Indhun Safaati and Woyla Waluyo, who will represent the country at the Asia/Oceania Zone Junior Fed Cup event in Geelong, Australia, from April 24 to 29.