Hendri to meet Suwandi in Cigna Open final

Zakki Hakim, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Sunday will see Hendri Susilo Pramono play his Davis Cup doubles partner Suwandi in the men's singles final at the US$11,800 Cigna Open tennis tournament.

Top seed Hendri went to the final after he outplayed third seed Sebastian Dacosta 6-4, 6-2, and second seed Suwandi followed through when he beat Surya Wijaya 3-6, 6-1, 6-1, in Saturday's semifinals at the Jakarta Hilton International Executive Club.

Facing Sunday's final, 25-year old Hendri said that it was hard to tell who would win. He said, the two met each other in many tournaments, and knew each other's strengths.

"The one who is in the best condition will win," he told The Jakarta Post after his match.

Meanwhile, 27-year-old Suwandi adopted a low profile, saying that as top seed Hendri had the better chance.

Sunday's final is scheduled to start at 9 a.m.

Meanwhile, the women's singles semifinal saw an unexpected result when second seed Ayu Fani Damayanti retired from her game against non-seeded Febri Joana. Ayu was apparently too sick to play.

Ayu retired in the second set, and Febri was declared winner with 7-5, 3-0. Febri will advance to the final to meet top seed Wukirasih Sawondari, who earlier defeated third seed Eny Sulistyowati 6-7 (4/7), 6-1, 6-0.

According to the tournament's health officials, Ayu had complained of a fever since Thursday, but had started to feel better.

However, the scorching sun during Saturday's semifinal was too much for Ayu. From the beginning of the second set her face was noticeably pale.

Soon after the game was called off Ayu vomited.

Officials said that Ayu would see a specialist in the afternoon.

The sportswoman had told the officials that she would undergo a blood test just in case she had contracted dengue fever.

A high number of dengue fever cases have been reported in the city since early this year, with 312 deaths from the disease nationwide.