Wynne makes RI tennis history

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's Wynne Prakusya won the US$10,000 Wellington Women's International Tournament on Sunday after beating Rewa Hudson of New Zealand 7-5, 6-2.

The 16-year-old Wynne, a finalist at the junior Australian Open a week before, had to pump out her energy in the first set as Hudson led 3-0.

With Indonesian citizens, including Ambassador Titik Rustaman, throwing their weight behind her, Wynne fought point by point before ending the set 7-5.

In the second set, Wynne, a member of the 19th SEA Games team here last year, won 6-2 easily.

Coach Suharyadi said, as quoted by Antara, that Wynne played excellently, aggressively and confidently.

Suharyadi also said that support from Indonesians in New Zealand gave Wynne the spirit and motivation to win the final.

Wynne, who teams up with Wukirasih Sawondari and Eny Sulistyowati in the Fed Cup Asia Oceania qualifying group I this week in Bangkok, is the first Indonesian to reach the final of a junior grand slam.

Unfortunately, Wynne and doubles partner Jil-Iin Leong of Singapore failed to overcome Shelley Stephens (New Zealand)/Kim Hazzard (Australia) losing 1-6, 6-1, 6-7. (yan)