Eight host players survive tennis tournament opener

JAKARTA (JP): Only three host players survived the first round of the Men's Indonesia Futures F6 at the Danamon tennis complex in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, on Wednesday.

In the Indonesia Women's Circuit 3 also held at the complex, five Indonesians reached the second round.

Febi Widhiyanto won out in a thrilling match against Bjorn Jacob of Germany 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 in the men's singles. Febi, a member of the national team, will face Thomas Shimada of Japan, who beat his seventh seeded compatriot Kotaro Miyachi 6-1, 6-4.

Yusmawan Fahmi, also a member of the national team, was forced to fight to overcome junior Ferdy Fauzi 4-6, 6-4, 7-5. Yusmawan will meet eighth seeded Juraj Hasko of Slovakia. Hasko eliminated last week's Futures F5 runner-up Sebastian Da Costa of Indonesia 6-3, 1-6, 6-4.

Edy Kusdaryanto also reached the second round by defeating veteran Suhendar Dinata 3-6, 6-2, 6-4. Edy will meet second seeded Jan Hermansson of Sweden, who humbled Indonesia's Suwandi 6-3, 6-2.

Hendri Susilo Pramono of Indonesia bowed out to Thai Danai Udomchoke 3-6, 3-6. Udomchoke will face Hiroyashi Sato of Japan, who came back from a first-set deficit to drub Indonesian Andrian Raturandang 2-6, 6-0, 6-2.

Top seeded Satoshi Iwabuchi of Japan beat Tjahjono of Indonesia 6-4, 6-2 to meet Kamil Blaha of the Czech Republic, who won 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 over teammate Josef Nesticky.

In the women's event, Wukirasih Sawondari reached the second round by beating Archana Venkarataman of India 6-4, 6-2. She will face top seeded Benjamas Sangaram of Thailand, who was barely into her rhythm when Vicky Barker of England retired trailing 0- 2.

Junior Frederika Girsang trounced Svetla Bozicnik of Slovenia 6-2, 6-1. She will meet the winner of the match between veteran Irawati Moerid Iskandar and Ka Po Tong of Hong Kong.

Eny Sulistyowati struggled before beating junior Villa Daniella 7-5, 7-6 (7-5). Eny will face eighth seeded Susanne Filipp of Austria, who defeated Slovenian Nina Janzekovic 6-2, 6- 2.

Mimma Chernovita also survived with a 6-3, 6-2 win Lucia Tallo of Switzerland. Mimma will meet Diane Asensio of Switzerland, who edged Indonesia's young hope Dea Sumantri 7-6 (7-1), 5-7, 7-6 (7- 3).

Second seeded Jayaramsaj Jayalakshmy of India beat South Korean Sae Mi Lim 6-2, 6-4 to face teammate Arthi Venkataraman, who won 4-6, 6-1, 6-3 over Australian Michelle Grobby. (yan)