Japanese out to buck odds

MANILA, Philippines - Japan knows only too well the odds it would face when it takes on the Philippine side in the Davis Cup Asia Oceania Zone Group I tie beginning Friday in Cebu.

But the visiting squad said it is more than ready to reassert its mastery over the Filipinos despite playing on a slow court and an expected hot weather and before a hostile crowd at the Plantation Bay Resort and Spa clay courts.

“In any situation, we look for solution,” said Japan’s team captain Eiji Takeuchi during a break in practice yesterday.

Although the skies cleared up after days of rain, the Japanese netters are anticipating a hot, humid weather by game day.

“We don’t know yet (as to how hot it’s going to be) but it must be hot. We already felt the humidity here and we have to get used to it,” said Takeuchi, a former Davis Cupper himself.

They, however, have three days to acclimatize.

With regard to the playing surface to be used in the three-day meet, the Japanese, who are used to playing on hard courts, said they are more ready to compete on such surface.

Since it is winter in Japan right now, the Japanese said they trained at indoor clay tennis courts with air conditioning that can be adjusted to either hot or cold weather depending on the place they would play in.

Takeuchi, meanwhile, noted that the court at Plantation is better than the one they played in Manila before.

“In Manila, they used special clay made of shell. Here, it’s like what we have in Japan,” Takeuchi said.

Takao Suzuki, one of the nominated players for the upcoming tie who has a clay court experience, said that the playing court is a very nice one and even if it rains hard, it will be playable again in a matter of time.

As to the “homecourt” advantage of the Filipinos, the Japanese are also appealing to their Cebu-based countrymen to come and support them.

“The situation is tough here but we are ready for it,” said Japan coach Kentoro Maguda.