Angie, Dea clinch women's doubles title at Cigna Open

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's young hopefuls Angelique Widjaja and Dea Sumantri managed to win the women's doubles title of the 2001 Cigna Open Colors of Life tennis tournament. They crushed seniors Eny Sulistyowati and Liza Andriyani 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 at the Bung Karno tennis complex in Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Friday.

After leading one set, Eny and Liza could no longer match their juniors' fast play. Angie, Angelique's nickname, and Dea displayed good volleys to win the remaining two sets.

The youngsters attributed their victory to their strategy.

"We made mistakes in the first set. We played in the baseline and were easily cornered. In the second set, we changed our strategy by playing in front of the net and kept on pressuring them," Angie told reporters after the match.

Angie and Dea beat veteran duo Irawati Moerid Iskandar and Luky Tedjamukti in the semifinals at the same time Eny and Liza thrashed their juniors Dewi Monica Siregar and Ida Sutedja.

In the men's doubles, Andrian Raturandang and Febi Widhiyanto will challenge Edy Kusdaryanto and Ferdi Fauzi in Saturday's final.

Andrian and Febi beat Surya Wijaya and Yusmawan Fahmi 6-3, 6-4 while Edy and Ferdi outclassed Sebastian Da Costa and Suhendar Dinata 6-0, 3-6, 7-5.

Suhendar reached the men's singles final to set up an encounter with Febi.

Suhendar crushed Surya 6-3, 6-2 while Febi had to use all his energy to overcome Yusmawan 6-0, 4-6, 6-3.

"I have met Dede (Suhendar's nickname) several times but he won in most of our encounters. I'll try to fight back on Saturday," said Febi.

The 16-year-old Angie may double her pocket money if she wins the women's singles event over her senior Wukirasih Sawondari.

She barely sweated it out to beat Liza 6-2, 6-0 in Friday's semis while Wukirasih overcame Eny 7-6 (7-2), 6-4.

"Wukirasih beat me in a Satellite tournament about two years ago, but I took revenge in the 1999 National Games (PON)," said Angie. (ivy)