Natalia strolls into second round

JAKARTA (JP): Natalia Soetrisno cleared her first hurdle at the US$50,000 Indonesia Women's Challenger tennis championships here yesterday, edging out compatriot Mimma Chernovita 6-4, 6-3 in a topsy turvy match.

Natalia, nationally ranked number three, left her fellow Indonesian, who was awarded a wild card entry to join the main drawing, on the defensive, hitting a series of long shots from the baseline.

Natalia's draw in the match, however, is not likely to favor her as she is slated to meet fifth seed Park Sung-hee of South Korea in the next round. Park, fresh from her trip to Hiroshima's Asian Games, played flawlessly to beat Japan's Ayako Hirose in straight sets 6-2, 6-3.

Top seeded Yoke Kamio set out on her chase for the title here with a warm-up 6-2, 6-0 win over fellow Japanese Hiroko Hara in less than an hour. World number 86 Kamio, who fell in the semifinals last year, drilled powerful lobs and backhand slices with no equal replies from her quickly tiring opponent.

Kamio will now take on Austrian Katharina Bueche who struggled in the opening set to edge out Kerry-Anne Guse of Australia 7-6, 6-2.

All first round matches at the Senayan tennis complex yesterday featured players who joined the top half section. Those who are included in the bottom half will play their first round today, including second seeded Romana Tedjakusuma.

Romana, who slipped her way into the final of the women's tournament against Tessa Price of South Africa last year, starts her campaign against Andrea Tunko of Austria today. If everything goes as expected, Romana will encounter Japan's world number 167 Rika Hiraki in the quarterfinals.

Romana, rated 125 in the world, will also form a partnership with Park in tomorrow's doubles match against Indonesian Irawati Moerid and Japan's Mori Yokobiri. (amd)