Indonesian tennis teams make short work into finals
Indonesian tennis teams make short work into finals
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (JP): The Indonesian men's and women's
tennis teams smashed their way into the finals of the 20th
Southeast Asian (SEA) Games on Monday.
The national men's team did not drop a set in beating the
Philippines 3-0, sweet revenge for its Davis Cup defeat in
Jakarta in April. Suwandi and company will now meet top seeded
Thailand, which trounced host Brunei 3-0 in the other semifinal.
Wynne Praskusya led the Indonesian women to a 3-0 win over
Malaysia to set up a final against the Philippines, which toppled
a weakened Thai side 2-1.
The finals will take place on Tuesday.
Febi Widhiyanto defied the scorching heat to give Indonesia a
decisive 6-4, 6-0 opening win over Joseph Lizardo. Suwandi
assured Indonesia a final berth with a 6-4, 6-3 defeat of Bryan
Juinio. The new partnership of Hendri Susilo Pramono and Yusmawan
Fahmi completed the drubbing by beating Michael John and Cruz
Dante 6-4, 7-6 (7-2).
In the women's team event, veteran Romana Tedjakusuma made
short work of Malaysian Chiew Eline 6-1, 6-3. Second singles
Wynne encountered some trouble in the first set before beating
Khoo Chin Bee 7-6 (7-1), 6-4. The doubles team of Liza Andriyani
and Wukirasih Sawondari scored a 6-3, 6-2 win over Tan Lynn Yin
and Lai Shareen in the dead third rubber.
Wynne attributed her shaky start to her one-month layoff to
nurse a back injury prior to the Games.
Febi and Lizardo were tied at 4-4 before the Filipino was
swept aside by the challenge of his 19-year-old Indonesian
opponent. Febi then took total control of the match, winning
eight consecutive games to make amends for his loss to Lizardo in
the Davis Cup tie.
"I played really well today and I could enjoy my game.
Besides, Lizardo made many unforced errors in the second set,"
said Febi, a student of Diponegoro University in Semarang,
Central Java.
"I was a bit nervous in the beginning due to the pressure that
we had to beat the Philippines. After I broke him, I could play
better and better."
Second singles Suwandi, the 1993 SEA Games singles champion,
lost his composure when he served for the match at 5-1 in the
second set. But after Juinio made it 3-5, Suwandi displayed his
clinical touch to close out the match.
"I think I played as well as I used to, but here the court
surface is faster and it gave me an advantage to win," Suwandi
said.
Coach Tintus Arianto Wibowo said he was satisfied with the
outcome.
"We aimed to beat the Philippines and we did it. We prepared
really well. The team is really solid and none of the players was
afraid to face their opponents.
"Suwandi played well today but I expect him to perform better
tomorrow."
Thailand beat host Brunei Darussalam 3-0. Danai Udomchoke of
Thailand whipped Lu On Sie 6-0, 6-1 while Paradorn Srichaphan
drubbed Ibrahim Ak Ismasuflan by the reverse score of 6-1, 6-0.
Vittaya Samrej and Narathorn Sichaphan completed the victory with
a 6-2, 6-0 thrashing of Wong Kee Hing Johnson and Cheong Nelson
Anderson.
Febi was optimistic he would be able to overcome Danai in the
first singles match.
"I have a great chance to tame him. I beat him in a junior
tournament five years ago," Febi said. (yan)