No Indonesian women shuttlers in Indonesia Open finals

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian girls had to swallow bitter pills as none of them, neither singles nor doubles, will be in the US$150,000 Sanyo Indonesia Open finals at the Senayan Tennis Indoor Stadium on Sunday.

Indonesia still has a chance to win the men's singles title as teen idol Taufik Hidayat reached the final. Another title will come from the men's doubles as the host made an all-Indonesian semifinals.

Home favorite Lidya Djaelawidjaja, Indonesia's only hope in the women's singles, bowed out to world number one Camilla Martin of Denmark 7-11, 2-11 in Saturday's semifinals.

Defending champion Lidya, who upset Martin last year in the quarterfinals, was unable to contest Martin's sharp smashes and drop shots. The 27-year-old Indonesian made many unforced errors, especially in the second game.

"When we tied 7-7 in the first game, I started to lose control of the shuttlecock and made unforced errors. In the second game, I tried to play close to the net but the ball was too high, when I tried to lob, it went out. I was confused how to control her," Lidya said in a post-match conference.

"My movement was slower today as I was tired after yesterday's rubber set against Mia Audina of the Netherlands. I played under pressure because I wanted so much to win. Unfortunately, I failed," she added.

Martin expressed joy with her result.

"This is the first time I have reached the Indonesia Open final. I have never even been to the semifinals and I'm very happy with the results," said the top seed, who will face Wang Chen of Hong Kong, who crushed Kelly Morgan of Wales 11-0, 11-4 in the other semifinals.

Speaking on her chance against Wang, Martin said she had never met the Chinese player for a couple of years and it would be quite difficult to play her.

In the women's doubles, local best hope and seeded fourth, Etty Tantri and Cynthia Tuwankotta failed to overcome second seeds Joanne Goode and Donna Kellogg of England before bowing out 4-15, 11-15.

Etty and Cynthia, who are being groomed for the Olympics, did not show any progress even though they are now being coached by men's doubles coach Christian Hadinata.

They were down 0-11 and managed to earn four points before finally bowing out 4-15 in the first game.

Goodde and Kellogg will face Nicole van Hooren and Lotte Jonathans of the Netherlands, who beat unseeded Carmelita and Emma Ermawati of Indonesia 15-13, 15-11.

Carmelita said: "My finishing strokes were really bad because we both really wanted to win. I'm disappointed with today's performance as we couldn't play as well as when we beat Helene Kirkegaard and Rikke Olsen of Denmark in the second round."

In the men's singles, defending champion Taufik Hidayat will face Malaysian Ong Ewe Hock in Sunday's final, which will be aired live by RCTI at 07.00 p.m. Jakarta Time.

Taufik overcame Roslin Hashim of Malaysia 15-11, 15-5 to lead 3-1 in their head-to-head.

"Ong is a very tough player and he's mentally prepared for everything. I think he's in his best form here. Well, the chance to retain my title is 50-50," Taufik said.

Ong said: "Of course I'm glad to reach my first Indonesian Open final. I will give my best to win the game tomorrow. The chance is 50-50. I just don't want to put pressure on myself."

In the mixed doubles, Indonesia also failed to reach the final as defending champion Tri Kusharyanto and Minarti Timur lost to Simon Archer and Joanne Goode of England 15-7, 13-15, 10-15 while last year's runner up Bambang Suprianto and Zelin Resiana also bowed out to Dane Michael Sogaard and Rikke Olsen 7-15, 13-15.

The men's doubles will see world number one Candra Wijaya and Tony Gunawan challenge Olympic qualifiers Flandy Limpele and Eng Hian. (yan)

Results (x denotes seeding)

Men's singles: Taufik Hidayat (Ina x3) bt Roslin Hashim (Mal) 15-11, 15-5; Ong Ewe Hock (Mal) bt Johan Hadikusuma (Ina) 15-9, 15-4

Women's singles: Camilla Martin (Den x1) bt Lidya Djaelawidjaja (Ina) 11-7, 11-2; Wang Chen (Hkg) bt Kelly Morgan (Wal) 11-0, 11-4

Men's doubles: Candra Wijaya/Tony Gunawan (Ina x1) bt Sigit Budiarto/Halim Heryanto (Ina) 15-7, 15-11; Flandy Limpele/Eng Hian (Ina) bt Ricky Subagja/Rexy Mainaky (Ina x4) 15-6, 15-9

Women's doubles: Joanne Goode/Donna Kellogg (Gbr x2) bt Etty Tantri/Cynthia Tuwankotta (Ina x4) 15-4, 15-11; Nicole van Hooren/Lotte Jonathans (Ned x3) bt Carmelita/Emma Ermawati (Ina) 15-13, 15-11

Mixed doubles: Michael Sogaard/Rikke Olsen (Den x1) bt Bambang Suprianto/Zelin Resiana (Ina) 15-7, 15-13; Simon Archer/Joanne Goode (Gbr x5) bt Tri Kusheryanto/Minarti Timur (Ina x3) 7-15, 15-13, 15-10