RI takes doubles titles at the Astra c'ships

RI takes doubles titles at the Astra c'ships

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia swept both doubles titles at the Astra International junior tennis championships at Senayan yesterday.

National junior number two Wukirasih Sawondari formed a powerful team with Marieke Gunawan to beat top seeded Liza Andriani and Eny Sulistyowati 6-1, 6-2 in an all-Indonesian women's doubles final.

It took the second seeds, who drilled a number of drop shots and volley winners, only an hour to dispatch their lackluster opponents who are being groomed for the World Junior Championships.

"They were too much for us. We didn't have a breather throughout the match," Liza admitted. Liza and Enny, who last played together seven months ago, were pinned on the baseline, struggling hard for every return.

The men's doubles final was another Indonesian affair. Eduardus Bawono and Surya Budi outlasted compatriots Peter Handoyo and Haryadi Lesmana in three sets 6-2, 2-6, 6-4.

Chairman of the Indonesian tennis association, Sarwono Kusumaatmadja, who didn't move during yesterday's finals, said he found nothing wrong with the fact that none of his players manage to take the singles title.

"Our players have great potential despite the loss in the singles event. They only need to learn a little bit more about playing with patience and discipline," said Sarwono.

Enny and Wukirasih, two top seeds in the women's singles, were sent packing early in the tournament. In the men's singles, Eduardus and Lesmana were the only Indonesians to survive until the semifinals.

Inue Maiko grabbed the women's singles crown by default yesterday when her Japanese compatriot Akiko Morigami opted to pull out of the final due to diarrhea. The tournament's medical officials said Morigami would not be fit for the final since she had thrown up several times on Saturday night.

England's Steven Clark triumphed in the men's singles with a hard-earned 7-5, 1-6, 6-1 win over Sebastian Swierk. (amd)