Angie clinches French Open title

Mon, 10 Jun 2002, 00:00 WIB | Source: AFP

Emmeline Moore, Agence France-Presse, Paris

Wimbledon junior champion Angelique Widjaja, the top seed from
Indonesia saw off a stiff challenge from American 11th seed
Ashley Harkleroad before clinching the French Open junior girls'
title here Sunday.

And the first thing the 17-year-old from Bandung, West Java,
did after winning her second Grand Slam crown was get on the
phone immediately to parents Rico and Hanita and five brothers
back home in Indonesia.

"They were nervous because they were watching the match on the
Internet point by point," explained Angie, as she is popularly
known.

"I'll celebrate with them back in Indonesia after Wimbledon."

Harkleroad, 17, who has been hyped as the American version of
Anna Kournikova for her long blonde hair and good looks, gave her
opponent a scare but Angie steeled her nerve to take the tie 3-6,
6-1, 6-4.

The last time the pair meet on clay in 2001 Harkleroad came
away 6-0, 6-1 winner, but the Indonesian had the measure of her
opponent this time round.

"In the first set I had a little bit of pressure because I'd
played against her and lost. But I wasn't down in the first set
because of the loss," said Angie. "After that I knew what to do
to play for the game. I needed to pressure her."

Angie said that she will now be moving up to the WTA circuit
out of juniors this year and was not sure whether she would
defend her title at Wimbledon or just stay in the main draw.

"The WTA is very different, it's difficult for me emotionally
and mentally. This is the last time I'll play juniors, and
Wimbledon maybe but I won't play the US Open," she added.

Harkleroad, who threw away a chance to go 4-3 up in the third
set, admitted she had blown it.

"She's got a lot smarter than before now that she's playing in
the pros," said the American.

Meanwhile, the boys' title was won by rising French star
Richard Gasquet, the second seed, who overawed compatriot Laurent
Recouderc, the recipient of a wild card entry, off Court One 6-0,
6-1.

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