Senior men's and women's double win Niaga Open
Senior men's and women's double win Niaga Open
JAKARTA (JP): Seasoned men's and women's double tennis players
proved their quality on Saturday by trouncing their juniors in
the finals of the Rp 35 million (US$4,800) Niaga Cigna Open 2000
at Senayan tennis stadium.
Veteran partners Bonit Wiryawan and Sulistyo Wibowo took the
Rp 1.395 million prize money in the men's doubles after they
outclassed the experienced Andrian Raturandang and Suwandi 7-6,
6-3.
Irawati Moerid, who partnered her junior Wukirasih Sawondari
in the women's doubles, overcame young hopefuls Dea Sumantri and
Frederika Girsang 6-1, 6-3.
In the men's singles, Andrian will face Edy Kusdaryanto in the
final on Sunday. Although he was humiliated in the first set,
Andrian managed to rebound and overpower veteran Dede Suhendar
Dinata 0-6, 6-2, 6-3 in Saturday's semifinal.
Irawati was not so lucky in the singles event. She was
defeated by Wukirasih 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 on Saturday. In Sunday's
final, Wukirasih will challenge Frederika, who upset former 1999
Southeast Asian (SEA) Games team member Liza Andriani 6-4, 6-3.
Wukirasih, who is also a former member of the SEA team, said
that she was more physically prepared to play on gravel than her
opponent, Irawati. "I will try to be more patient when I face
Ira," she said.
She, however, complained about the amount of prize money she
received after winning the doubles event.
"The winners in the women's doubles received Rp 775,000 and I
have to share it with Ira. But I thought the prize money in
domestic tournament was not worth more than that," she said.
Secretary-general of the Indonesian Tennis Association (Pelti)
Sugeng Sarjadi said the Rp 35 million had been allocated by the
International Tennis Federation (ITF).
"Our sponsors offer a small amount of money as prize money,
and the allocation of it has been decided by the ITF," he said on
Saturday.
The competition is sponsored by insurance company PT Asuransi
Niaga Cigna Life.
Sulistyo said after the match he was satisfied with his own
performance. He said he wanted to prove to himself and to Pelti's
officials that he is still worthy of a place in the national
team.(ivy)