Seeds cruise in tennis event

JAKARTA (JP): There were no surprises as top players reached the quarterfinals of the men's and women's Niaga Cigna Open 2000 at Senayan tennis complex on Thursday.

In the men's singles, top seeded Suhendar Dinata beat Irwan Radjab 6-4, 6-1 to meet Yusmawan Fahmi on Friday. Yusmawan worked hard to defeat Stanley Sanger 7-5, 6-2.

Second seeded Edy Kusdaryanto, a member of the Davis Cup team, beat Eko Kurniawan 6-3, 6-2. Edy will face veteran Bonit Wiryawan, who beat Cuk P. 6-2, 6-0.

Third seeded Sebastian Da Costa trounced qualifier Nesa Artha 6-1, 6-1. He will face a tough challenge on Friday against veteran Tjahjono, who was stretched in two close sets against Prima Simpatiaji, 7-6 (7-2), 6-4.

In the women's singles, Irawati Moerid Iskandar held off a second-set resurgence by Nuraeni Batubara, 6-0, 7-6 (7-5). Irawati will face Lianasari Batubara, who eliminated Dewi Monica Siregar 6-1, 6-1.

Second seeded Liza Andriyani beat Agustina Wibisono 6-2, 6-4. She will face Suci Bungaran, who edged Novianti Warsono 7-5, 6-4.

Wukirasih Sawondari, the third seed, is expected to be challenged by young Angelique Wijaya on Friday. Wukirasih outlasted Mimma Chernovita 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 while Angelique handed down a 6-1, 6-0 drubbing to Nuraini Darissalamah. (yan)