All-RI finals in women's singles

JAKARTA (JP): Wukirasih Sawondari and Irawati Moerid Iskandar will meet at today's All-Indonesia finals of the Governor Cup Women's Satellite championship at the Kemayoran tennis complex.

Wukirasih, world ranked 730, struggled before defeating eighth-seeded Keiko Ishida of Japan 1-6, 6-3, 6-1 in a one-hour- 35-minute match.

Irawati overcame Jahnavi Parekh of India 6-2, 6-4 in the same amount of time to reach the finals of the US$10,000 championship.

Indonesian Tennis Association's Jakarta branch chairwoman, Martina Wijaya, said: "Wukirasih and Irawati's success to reach the finals are very satisfying. It shows they are ready to perform at the 19th SEA Games."

The association's chairman Sarwono Kusumaatmadja also witnessed yesterday's semifinals.

Sixteen-year-old Wukirasih reached her first final match of her career.

"I'm very glad I reached my first final. Tomorrow I'll do my best to win my first title," she said.

Irawati, who is making a comeback after childbirth, is playing her third final. In 1993, she won a satellite tournament in Bandung after beating Chinese Chen Li and in 1994 she reached the final of a satellite tournament in Brunei.

"I'll enjoy my match tomorrow against Wukirasih. I beat her twice in 1993 and 1994. Physically she can be better but I am more experienced and my technical skills are better," she said.

Unfortunately, the Indonesian women's doubles team failed to reach the finals.

Liza Andriyani/Wynne Prakusya lost to world ranked 38 Wang Shi Ting/Hsu Hsueh Li of Chinese Taipei 0-6, 4-6. Wang/Hsu will face Japanese duo Yoriko Yamagishi/Tomoe Hotta, who defeated Benjamas Sangaram/Chae Kyung-yee (Thailand/South Korea) 6-4, 6-4.

In the men's singles, Febi Widhiyanto upset fourth seeded Tjahjono 7-6 (7-0), 6-3 to meet sixth seeded Suhendar Dinata in today's finals.

Suhendar beat top seeded Sebastian da Costa 6-2, 7-6 (7-5).

In the men's doubles, Sebastian/Surya Wijaya beat Yusmawan Fahmi/Ariawan 7-5, 6-2 to face Febi/Edy Kusdaryanto, who beat Donny Susetyo/Samsudin Pare 4-6, 6-4, 6-2. (yan)