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)