Indonesia faces top Thai squad for women's tennis gold

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia whitewashed the Philippines yesterday in the women's tennis team event to reach a final showdown with top seeded Thailand.

Second singles Wukirasih Sawondari defeated Maricris Fernandes 6-1, 6-3 to put the host team ahead on the Senayan clay courts.

First singles Wynne Prakusya beat Marisue Jacutin 6-4, 6-2 to give Indonesia the decisive 2-0 lead in the best-of-three tie.

Indonesia's non-playing captain Alfred Raturandang stood up and shook Wynne's hand as 1,000 spectators clapped their approval after her win.

In the meaningless third rubber, Indonesians Liza Andriyani/Irawati Moerid Iskandar dismissed Maria Saret/Pamela Floro 6-3, 6-2 to seal the drubbing.

Indonesia team manager Benny Mailili said his players were a class above their opponents.

"I had estimated that our players would win today," he said.

The first set of the Wynne-Jacutin match was a closely fought affair.

Wynne, 17, raced to 5-1 before Jacutin broke her service twice to reach 4-5. But the Filipina double-faulted on her own serve to hand Wynne the set.

"I didn't expect to meet Jacutin because, based on the draw, I should have played Fernandes," Wynne told The Jakarta Post. "But actually our chance was 75-25 against the Philippines."

"I didn't have much trouble against her because I had beaten her earlier this year in a satellite tournament."

The Thai team was on edge when its first singles, Tamarine Tanasugarn, committed numerous unforced errors and had to pull out all the stops to beat Khoo Chin Bee of Malaysia 6-3, 2-6, 7- 5.

Thai second singles Suvimol Duangchan beat Tan Lynn Yin 6-3, 6-1 to assure her team a final spot.

Marissa Niroj, replacing Tamarine, teamed up with Benjamas Sangaram to beat Tan Lynn Yin/Khoo 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 for a clean sweep of the matches.

Thailand's shaky performance gave Benny Mailili hope for the final.

"Considering Thailand's performance today, I think we have a 60-40 chance in the team's event. Whoever meets Tamarine tomorrow still have 50-50 chance. Tamarine didn't play very well today and she could not adjust to the clay court."

Benny was tight-lipped about Indonesia's team formation for today's final.

"Let the players decide in tonight's meeting. If they make the decision, then it will give them self-confidence for the matches."

It was a similar story for Thailand's male players as they struggled to beat Malaysia 2-1.

First singles Paradorn Srichaphan beat V. Seluan 7-5, 7-6 (7- 5) to keep the Thais in the running after Malaysian R. Ramachandran upset veteran Waraphol Thongkhumchoo 7-5, 6-3.

Paradorn and his brother Narathorn Srichaphan eked out victory over Seluan and Ramachandran 7-6 (9-7), 7-6 (7-5) in the all- important third match.

Thailand will meet second seeded the Philippines, which received a bye, in today's semifinal.

In a contest of two minor tennis nations, Vietnam surrendered just six games in thrashing Cambodia 3-0. First singles On Tan Luc routed Chann Thy 6-0, 6-0 while second singles Tran Duc Quynh defeated Rin Sophanaro 6-1, 6-2.

In the doubles, On Tan Luc/Truong Quoc Hung beat Chann Thy/Phul Chantina 6-1, 6-2.

Vietnam will challenge top seeded Indonesia in the other semifinal.

Although he would not disclose his team's lineup for the final, Indonesian men's tennis coach Wailan Walalangi said the odds were heavily in favor of his players against the Vietnamese. (yan)