Wynne wins in win-win match for RI

Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Manila Wynne Prakusya won the only title to have eluded her in the Southeast Asian Games after she defeated Romana Tedjakusuma in an all-Indonesian women's singles tennis final here on Saturday.

After carrying the women's team on her petite shoulders to claim the team title a day earlier, Wynne is poised for more hardware as she plays in the finals of the women's doubles and the mixed doubles on Sunday.

However, the singles honor was her sweetest achievement after losing twice in the finals in two previous SEA Games, losing to Mary Fernandez in 1999 and to compatriot Romana in 2001.

Despite a dominating performance in her 6-0, 6-3 victory, Wynne admitted to having felt a bit nervous before the match.

"It was worried after I lost in the previous two finals," said Wynne.

Romana praised her doubles partner, saying that Wynne played better and deserved the victory.

"She was very clever in terms of ball placement. I had a little problem with her serves," the 29-year-old Romana said.

With the popular Cecil Mamiit and other Philippines players on the schedule, home fans came out in huge numbers, making the Rizal Memorial hardcourts fully packed with raucous noise.

Mamiit, who defeated Indonesia's Prima Simpatiaji in the semifinals, paid back the strong support by winning the men's singles title with a 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 victory over top seed Danai Udomchoke of Thailand.

The Indonesians also deserved their cheers on the day. After grabbing two golds in the women's singles and team competition, they are now assured of another in the women's doubles with Wynne and Romana teaming against Ayu Fani Damayanti and Septi Mende.

"These achievements are more than we expected," the team manager Kresno Merdiko said.

Wynne and Romana secured their place in the finals after taking the third set 6-3 over Denise Dy and Riza Zalameda of the Philippines in a match that was carried over on Friday. The match was stopped at 5-2 in third after splitting the first two sets 6- 2, 6-7 (4-7).

Ayu and Septi made it an all-Indonesian final after they defeated Montinee Tangphong and Thassa Vitayaviroj of Thailand 6- 1, 7-5.

Wynne's mixed doubles match will see her team up with Suwandi against Eric Taino and Zalameda in the final.

The Indonesian pair stopped top seeds Sonchat Ratiwatana and Napaporn Tongsalee 6-1, 6-4 while Taino and Zalameda beat the other Thai pair Sanchai Ratiwatana and Tangphong 6-2, 6-3.

In the last semifinal match on Saturday, Indonesian men's doubles team Prima and Sunu Wahyu Trijati bowed out to Mamiit and Taino 7-6 (8-6), 4-6, 2-6. The Filipinos will face the Ratiwatana brothers, who dispatched Suwandi and Bonit Wiryawan in Friday's semifinals.