Indonesia routs Holland in junior tennis

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian junior tennis players completed a rout of their Dutch counterparts in friendly matches at the Hilton tennis courts on Sunday.

Indonesia suffered its only loss as boys' singles Peter Handoyo crashed to Stefan Aarts in a marathon match 5-7, 3-6, 6- 0, 6-4, 8-10, but the hosts held on to win 4-1 in the boys' division and 5-0 in the girls' team event played in Davis Cup and Federation Cup formats respectively.

The matches followed a mutual agreement on technical assistance between the Dutch tennis association (KNLTB) and the Indonesian tennis association (Pelti) signed on Saturday. KNLTB will play host to the friendly matches next year.

"We overcame a less experienced team. They lacked opportunities to play in tough tournaments," said Eddy Katimansah, Pelti's promotion and foreign affairs official. He added that the heat must have had an effect on the jet-lagged Dutch boys and girls.

The pair of Ifan Taufik and Hendri Soesilo clinched the Indonesian boys' victory when they outlasted Ronald Kloppart and Sebastian Sikkink 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 7-5 for a 3-0 winning lead. Febi Widhiyanto extended the lead with a 7-6 (7-5), 6-3, 6-4 win over Remco Pondman.

Federation Cup team member Enny Sulistyowati stormed to her second singles win to give Indonesia an assailable 3-0 lead. She beat Anette Ooster 2-6, 6-1, 6-1. Wynne Prakusya stretched the gap with a 7-5, 6-1 victory over substitute Andrea van der Hurk.

On Saturday, Kelly Bouman retired with stomach troubles as she trailed Enny 5-7, 1-2. Wynne outlasted Oosters 7-5, 3-6, 6-1 in the second singles.

The Indonesians completed the drubbing when a well-knit team of Wukirasih Sawondari and Vania Prakusya defeated van den Hurk and Diane Oost 6-2, 6-1. (amd)