Wynne, Romana to vie for singles gold

Wynne, Romana to vie for singles gold

Musthofid, The Jakarta Post/Manila

Wynne Prakusya and Romana Tedjakusuma subdued their strongest
rivals in the region from Thailand in Friday's semifinals to
assure the country a second gold from tennis at the Southeast
Asian (SEA) Games.

Saturday's all-Indonesia final on the hardcourts of the Rizal
Memorial Sports Complex will be their second in the SEA Games. In
2001 in Malaysia, Romana triumphed.

Four years later, Wynne, with only a singles gold missing from
her collection of women's team, women's and mixed doubles golds
that began in 1997, may have the upper hand. She won both of
their encounters in straight sets in Challenger tournaments
earlier this year.

"That shouldn't be taken to mean that I'm taking a win for
granted," Wynne, 24, said of her doubles partner after slugging
out a 6-2, 2-6, 6-2 win over Napaporn Tongsalee in almost two
hours.

"Romana is a hard-fighting player. If we are not physically
and mentally prepared, we will have a difficult time against her.
I'm going to fight it out because it's a rare chance for me."

In the earlier semifinal, 29-year-old, California-based Roman
also dropped the middle set before racing through the third
against Suchanan Viratprasert 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 in more than two
hours.

Wynne and Romana are also likely to be in the doubles final;
their semifinal against Denise DY and Riza Zalameda of the
Philippines was stopped with them leading 5-2 in the third set
after they split the first two 6-2, 6-7 (4).

In the men's doubles, Suwandi and Bonit Wiryawan, at 37
probably playing his last SEA Games, lost to Thai twin brothers
Sanchai and Sonchat Ratiwatana, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5.

On a nearby court, Prima Simpatiaji gave his all but found
himself facing a partisan home crowd and line judges against
American-born Cecil Mamiit of the Philippines.

There were annoying shouts during rallies, and dubious calls
against him at crucial moments. His protests fell on dear ears;
he was left to grin and bear it as he lost in two close
tiebreakers 6-7 (2), 6-7 (4).

"I ran after the ball everywhere he hit it, but I was up
against a tough guy out there," Prima told The Jakarta Post after
the two-hour tussle.

Mamiit will face Danai Udomchoke in the final. The Thai top
seed beat Mamiit's compatriot and doubles partner Eric Taino 7-6
(5), 6-4.

Prima, paired with Sunu Wahyu, will meet Mamiit once again in
the doubles final on Saturday. In the other women's semifinal
match, Ayu Fani Damayanti and Septi Mende of Indonesia face
Motinee Tangphong and Thassa Vitayaviroj of Thailand.