Easy does it for top seeds in Indonesia Open

Easy does it for top seeds in Indonesia Open

By Primastuti Handayani

DENPASAR, Bali (JP): The top seeds cruised through to the
third round of the US$150,000 Sanyo Indonesia Open on Wednesday
after winning in the first and second round matches at Yuwana
Mandala Hall.

Peter Gade Christensen of Denmark, the 1999 All England
champion, barely sweated as he eliminated Ramesh Nathan of
Malaysia 15-2, 15-9. Earlier in the day, Gade Christensen beat
Indonesian junior Boby Santoso 15-1, 15-9.

"Looking from the drawing, I think I'll get the benefit as the
top seed here," he said.

The 22-year-old Dane will face Indonesian Ronny Agustinus,
who had to work hard to eliminate junior Endra Feriyanto 15-11,
15-12.

Singapore Open finalist Taufik Hidayat got off to a shaky
start in the morning when he had to exert himself to survive in
his first test against Alvin Chew of Malaysia to win 17-14, 15-9.

The 18-year-old shuttler was downed 1-13 before he managed to
equal 13-13. But both players forced a deuce at 14-14 and Taufik
was able conclude the first set 17-14.

Taufik blamed his poor performance on the strong wind on the
court.

"I have never felt such a strong wind in a five-star
tournament. I was really disturbed by the wind and also the
stadium condition."

Coach Joko Suprianto said Taufik did not warm up adequately
before the match.

"He didn't have enough warming up for the match so he needed
a long time to adjust."

Taufik will meet towering Swedish Thomas Johansson, who stands
2.06 meters tall, in Thursday's third round. Johansson defeated
Indonesian rookie Arief Rasidi 15-10, 17-14.

Singapore Open semifinalist Marlev Mainaky managed to reach
the third round after beating Dane Rasmus Wengberg 15-8, 15-10.
Marlev will meet compatriot Indra Wijaya, who had to work hard to
overcome Anders Boesen of Denmark 15-6, 11-15, 15-12.

Hendrawan, the 1998 Asian Games runner up, reached the third
round after defeating Ruud Koijten of Belgium 15-9, 15-8.
Hendrawan will face Peter Rasmusen of Denmark who beat Jason Wong
of Malaysia 15-4, 17-16, 15-10.

The 1996 Olympics gold medalist Poul-Erik Hoyer-Larsen cruised
to the third round after beating Ardiansyah of Indonesia 15-8,
15-2.

He will face Yap Yong Jyen of Malaysia who defeated Gerben
Bruijstens of the Netherlands 15-10, 9-15, 15-2.

Other matches

In the women's singles, the 1999 World Champion Camilla Martin
of Denmark, top seeded here, reached the quarterfinals by
crushing Atu Rosalina of Indonesia 11-6, 11-4. Martin will face
Siska Yunita of Indonesia, who beat Petra Schrott of Italy 11-7,
11-6.

Second seeded Cindana Hartono had no trouble sending home
German Heike Schoenharting 11-1, 11-2. Cindana will face Mette
Pedersen of Denmark, who beat Novita Indah of Indonesia 11-6, 11-
3.

Third seeded Judith Meulendijks of the Netherlands beat
Chiung Siang of Indonesia 11-5, 11-9 to meet another Indonesian
young hope Mona Santoso. Mona defeated Christina Sorensen of
Denmark 11-4, 11-8.

Fourth seeded Mette Sorensen of Denmark had to pump out her
energy to overcome Indonesian Meiluawati 11-2, 11-13, 11-7.
Sorensen is to take on Ninik Masrikah of Indonesia, who beat
Italian Agnese Allagrini 11-5, 11-2.

In the men's doubles, top seeded Candra Wijaya and Tony
Gunawan beat their juniors Davis Efraim and Karel Mainaky 15-6,
15-12. Candra and Tony will meet Sweden's second-best pair of
Fredrik Bergstrom and Hendrik Andersson. The Swedish duo won over
twin brothers Dony Prasetyo and Deny Setiawan 15-10, 12-15, 17-
15.

Second seed Jens Eriksen and Jesper Larsen of Denmark also
reached the second round after beating rookies David Pohan and
Rone Rontolalu of Indonesia 15-10, 15-3.

Third seed Michael Sogaard and Jim Laugesen easily overcame
newcomers Dicky Susilo and Ferdi Rusman of Indonesia 15-7, 15-2.

While fourth seeded Ricky Subagja and Rexy Mainaky, the 1996
Olympics gold medalists, managed to overcome the Japanese duo of
Keita Matsuda and Ohtsuka Tadashi 17-14, 15-5.