Febi overpowers top seed Prima to keep the edge in rivalry<\/p>\n
Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Febi Widhianto clearly has Prima Simpatiaji's number in their
\ncontinuing rivalry for the top spot in national men's tennis.<\/p>\n
The third seed from Jakarta overcame the top seeded Central
\nJava player on Saturday in the most highly anticipated semifinal
\nof the Hemaviton Challenge 2005.<\/p>\n
The 25-year-old player's win set up a final against second
\nseeded Suwandi of West Java on Sunday in Senayan, Central
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
Febi won 6-3, 4-6, 6-1 in two hours, giving him a 4-1 lead in
\nhead-to-head meetings with the national number one, and a streak
\nof three consecutive wins in their most recent encounters.<\/p>\n
Showing no signs of a hand injury that kept him out of play
\nfor several months, Febi was sharp from the beginning, using his
\npowerful forehand to break serve and lead 3-0.<\/p>\n
Although Prima held his serve throughout the rest of the set,
\nso did his opponent to take the set.<\/p>\n
The tension rose in the second set, with four breaks of serve
\nfrom 2-2. Both men raised their level of play, hitting
\nspectacular winners and whipping up excitement among the crowd.<\/p>\n
After Prima finally held serve for 5-4, he was able to break
\nhis opponent to square the match at a set apiece.<\/p>\n
With the score at 1-1, Prima, 24, suddenly seemed spent, and
\nFebi won six games in a row for the match.<\/p>\n
Febi, who was ranked number one in the country in 2003, said
\nafter the match that he loved playing Prima -- formerly coached
\nby his current coach Deddy Prasetyo -- whose skills always made
\nfor an exciting and entertaining contest.<\/p>\n
\"I just lost my concentration in the second set, which led to
\nme losing the set. But I was able to regain my rhythm in the
\nfinal set to win the match.\"<\/p>\n
Veteran Suwandi defeated fourth seeded Sunu Wahyu Trijati of
\nGorontalo 6-2, 6-1.<\/p>\n
\"Tomorrow will be a tougher match for me as I have lost twice
\nto Suwandi,\" Febi said of his 29-year-old opponent. \"However, I
\nhope I'll be able to get revenge tomorrow.\"<\/p>\n
In the women's division, top seeded Ayu Fani Damayanti of
\nJakarta was little troubled by fifth seeded Eny Sulistiyowati of
\nEast Kalimantan 6-3, 6-1 in their semifinal.<\/p>\n
The 16-year-old Fed Cup team member will face seventh seeded
\nMaya Rosa of Central Java, who caused a minor upset by defeating
\nthird seeded Liza Andriyani of West Java 6-3, 3-6, 6-0.<\/p>\n
\"I haven't played Maya in the past two years, but, like me,
\nshe also looks to be in top form. I want to win the tournament so
\nI'll have to beat her,\" Ayu said.<\/p>",
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