Unseeded irawati upsets Benjamas

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's Irawati Moerid Iskandar upset third seeded Thai Benjamas Sangaram 6-3, 6-0 at the US$10,000 Governor Cup Women's Tennis Satellite tournament at the Kemayoran tennis complex yesterday.

Irawati, who is making her comeback after giving birth, repeated her success of six years ago at the SEA Games in Manila when she beat Benjamas 7-5, 6-2.

"I played all out and I can overcame her. The win was not very surprising because I knew her style. I just didn't let her take control on the ball," she said.

"I was not shocked or disappointed with my loss to Irawati. I was trying a new grip so my performance was not as good as usual. I will learn from my loss and prepare better for the SEA Games," Benjamas said.

Unseeded Irawati, who now joins the national squad, cruised to the quarterfinals and faces Japanese fifth seed Tomoe Hotta, who beat compatriot Riei Otakeyama 6-2, 6-4.

South Korean Chae Kyung-kee upset first seeded Japanese Keiko Nagatomi 6-2, 6-2. Chae now meets India's Jahnavi Parekh, who beat seventh seeded Malaysian Khoo Chin Bee 6-4, 6-1.

World number 38 Wang Shi Ting of Chinese Taipei teamed up with compatriot Hsu Hsueh Li in the women's doubles to overcome Indonesia's Wukirasih Sawondari/Eny Sulistyowati 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.

Old hand Suzanna Wibowo played with junior Marieke Gunawan to beat Kylie Moulds/Shelley Stephen (Australia/New Zealand) 6-2, 3- 6, 6-3.

In the men's singles, Indonesia Open International Junior Championship winner Febi Widhiyanto upset second seeded Samsudin Pare 6-2, 7-5 yesterday.

Febi will meet unseeded Surya Wijaya, who beat Champy Halim 6- 3, 6-4, in the quarterfinals. (yan)