Imron the sole survivor in junior tennis c'ships
Imron the sole survivor in junior tennis c'ships
JAKARTA (JP): Al Imron become the only Indonesian singles
tennis player to survive the semifinals of the 2000 Nabisco
International Junior Championships here on Friday.
Imron, seeded fifth in the event, was pushed to the limit in
beating third-seed Rahul Rajkhewa of India 6-4, 0-6, 7-6 (7-4) to
set up a final clash with Australian Clint Letcher on Saturday.
Sixth seeded Letcher had no trouble eliminating Indonesian
Henry Davin Teja 6-2, 6-2 during Friday's semifinal action at the
Senayan tennis courts.
Tennis observer August Ferry Raturandang praised Imron's
performance.
"He often used the drop shot to deceive his rival. But Imron
played a heavy spin, which was useless on the gravel court. I
think he will have trouble beating Letcher, unless the latter
commits a lot of unforced errors."
Imron said Saturday would be his first appearance in the final
of an international championship.
However, Imron and partner Henry failed to reach the doubles
final, bowing out to compatriots Nesa Artha and Eko Kurniawan 6-
4, 4-6, 0-6.
Nesa and Eko will meet the Indonesian duo of Letcher and Eko
Putra, who defeated Claudio Bramanta and Fandhi Handoko of
Indonesia 6-3, 6-3.
The girl's event will see third-seed Tiffany Welford of
Australia face top seeded Hsieh Su-wei of Chinese Taipei in the
final.
Hsieh beat Sasha Abraham of India 6-1, 6-1 to reach the final,
while Welford outclassed Indonesia's Stella Sondang 7-5, 6-2.
Hsieh was not so lucky in the doubles event. Teaming up with
Wang Nai-yu, she bowed out to the Indonesian pair of Maya Rosa
and Diana Julianto 5-7, 6-4, 5-7. Maya and Diana will meet
Gumulya and Septi Nindya Yutami on Sunday in an all-Indonesian
final.
Septi and Yutami defeated Pichaya Laosirichon of Thailand and
Julianne Welford of Australia 6-2, 6-0 to book their place in the
final.
Boy's singles player Fachri Syahputra of Indonesia won the
Under-16 event with a tough 7-6 (7-2), 6-1 victory over
compatriot A. Jonathan Amdanu on Friday.
In the all-Indonesian girl's final, top seeded Lisa Mariana
defeated Monica Aryani 6-3, 6-4 to win the title. (ivy)