Febi overpowers top seed Prima to keep the edge in rivalry

Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Febi Widhianto clearly has Prima Simpatiaji's number in their continuing rivalry for the top spot in national men's tennis.

The third seed from Jakarta overcame the top seeded Central Java player on Saturday in the most highly anticipated semifinal of the Hemaviton Challenge 2005.

The 25-year-old player's win set up a final against second seeded Suwandi of West Java on Sunday in Senayan, Central Jakarta.

Febi won 6-3, 4-6, 6-1 in two hours, giving him a 4-1 lead in head-to-head meetings with the national number one, and a streak of three consecutive wins in their most recent encounters.

Showing no signs of a hand injury that kept him out of play for several months, Febi was sharp from the beginning, using his powerful forehand to break serve and lead 3-0.

Although Prima held his serve throughout the rest of the set, so did his opponent to take the set.

The tension rose in the second set, with four breaks of serve from 2-2. Both men raised their level of play, hitting spectacular winners and whipping up excitement among the crowd.

After Prima finally held serve for 5-4, he was able to break his opponent to square the match at a set apiece.

With the score at 1-1, Prima, 24, suddenly seemed spent, and Febi won six games in a row for the match.

Febi, who was ranked number one in the country in 2003, said after the match that he loved playing Prima -- formerly coached by his current coach Deddy Prasetyo -- whose skills always made for an exciting and entertaining contest.

"I just lost my concentration in the second set, which led to me losing the set. But I was able to regain my rhythm in the final set to win the match."

Veteran Suwandi defeated fourth seeded Sunu Wahyu Trijati of Gorontalo 6-2, 6-1.

"Tomorrow will be a tougher match for me as I have lost twice to Suwandi," Febi said of his 29-year-old opponent. "However, I hope I'll be able to get revenge tomorrow."

In the women's division, top seeded Ayu Fani Damayanti of Jakarta was little troubled by fifth seeded Eny Sulistiyowati of East Kalimantan 6-3, 6-1 in their semifinal.

The 16-year-old Fed Cup team member will face seventh seeded Maya Rosa of Central Java, who caused a minor upset by defeating third seeded Liza Andriyani of West Java 6-3, 3-6, 6-0.

"I haven't played Maya in the past two years, but, like me, she also looks to be in top form. I want to win the tournament so I'll have to beat her," Ayu said.