Tennis: NZ to face Indonesia

New Zealand's Davis Cup tennis team hope a good performance against Indonesia will help them claw their way back into the Asia-Oceania region's top group.

Having beaten Malaysia 5-0 in their first round tie in March, New Zealand face Indonesia in the group two semifinal in Hamilton starting today.

Team captain James Greenhalgh said his players were reasonably confident going into the tie.

"We've had quite a few practice sessions today and all the guys are improving gradually with each practice," Greenhalgh said.

"At this stage everyone's been practising and the preparation's been very good."

The team comprise Dan King-Turner, Rubin Statham, G.D. Jones and Oliver Statham, who are all ranked higher than their Indonesian opponents.

King-Turner and Rubin Statham have both won Futures singles titles this year, and both King-Turner and Jones have each claimed four doubles titles.

Oliver Statham joins the team for the first time after his best year on the world circuit.

However, while rankings favour New Zealand, recent history does not.

The last time New Zealand met Indonesia, in Jakarta in 2004, Indonesia won 5-0.

A win in Hamilton would take the New Zealanders into the group two final against either Pakistan or the Philippines in September, and give them a chance to re-enter the top Asia Oceania tier.

The winners of group one move into promotion-relegation matches for the elite world group.

New Zealand were last in the world group in 1991.

- NZPA