Top seeds cruise into Cigna quarterfinals

Zakki Hakim, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

On the third day of the US$11,800 Cigna Open tennis tournament, all but one of the seeded contenders breezed through to the quarterfinals.

Top seed Hendri Susilo Pramono continued his winning run to advance to the last eight with a crushing 6-1, 6-0 defeat of Sandy Purnomo at the Jakarta Hilton International's Executive Club here on Thursday.

Second seed Suwandi followed the Indonesian No. 2 into the next round with an equally emphatic win, 6-1, 6-0 over Jonathan Amdanu.

A big win with exactly the same score was also chalked up by third seed Sebastian Dacosta in his game with Ferza Gautama, while fifth seed Bonit Wiryawan cruised by veteran Tjahjono for a 6-3, 6-2 victory.

Sixth seed Eko Kurniawan, a 6-1, 6-4 winner over Ariawan Poerbo, and seventh seed Sulistyo Wibowo, a 6-3, 6-1 winner over Andery Setyawanto, also joined the top players through to the quarters.

The only upset of the day was suffered by Edy Kusdaryanto. The fourth seed had to abandon his tournament hopes after he lost 7-6 (7/4), 6-4 to Surya Wijaya, number 21 in the national rankings.

Surya will meet Sulistyo in Friday's matches, which will also pit Hendri against Eko, Sebastian against Bonit and Suwandi against Suhendar Dinata.

Suhendar booked his ticket with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Elbert Sie.

Seeded players also fared well in the women's singles.

Top seed Wukirasih Sawondari defeated Mudarwati 6-2, 6-0, to meet eighth seed Novianti Warsono, who dispatched Rani Lestari 6- 3, 7-5 on Thursday.

Third seed Sulistyowati trampled Nancy Metriya 6-1, 6-0, a win which means a meeting with sixth seed Lavinia Tananta, who was extended to three sets before overcoming Denise Harijanto 4-6, 6- 4, 6-3.

Second seed Ayu Fani Damayanti and fifth seed Mimma Chernovita also advanced to the next round.

Meanwhile, the men's doubles players are also in the quarterfinal phase with Davis Cup pair Hendri/Suwandi to meet Armendio/Sunu Wahyu Trijati.

Hendri/Suwandi hardly broke a sweat in their 6-1, 6-1 victory over Rendy Reo Rampen/Tungky Arianto while Armendio/Sunu defeated the team of Seno Hartono/Sulistyo Wibowo 7-6 (7/4), 6-1.