Rungkat stumbled in 3rd round, with Kontinen into final

August 28, 2008

"Canadian Open Junior Championships 2008" continued on with its competition at Club De Tennis Repentigny Parc Larochelle in Repentigny, Quebec. In boys' singles main draw of this grade 1 tourney, 8th seed Christopher Rungkat had the chance to win but failed to be tough in critical moments. In round 16 Christo, as he prefered to be called, lost to 11th seed, Pablo Carreno-Busta (Spain/ITF 34) 4-6, 5-7.

In doubles, partnered with Finnish Henri Kontinen, Christo is placed as 1st seed. The French Open Junior 2008's champion got 1st round bye. In 2nd round, duo Christo/Kontinen defeated Marcelo Arevalo/Takanyi Garanganga (El Salvador/Zimbabwe) 3-6, 6-4, 11-9. In quarter final, Christo/Kontinen continued their run into semi-final after they outclassed 6th seed Mirza Basic/Wu Di (Boznia & Herzegovina/China) 6-3, 6-3. In the last four round, Christo/Kontinen kept their winning streak by crushing Devin Britton/Jordan Cox (USA/USA) 6-2, 6-2.

In girls' doubles, 6th seed Jessy Rompies/Beatrice Gumulya received 1st round bye. Rompies/Gumulya cruised into quarter final after defeating Canadian pair, Eugenie Bouchard/Nicole Smith 6-4, 7-6(5). In the last 8 round, Rompies/Gumulya bowed out to 3rd seed, Misaki Doi/Kurumi Nara (Japan/Japan) 3-6, 3-6.

Photo - courtesy of AFP/Getty Images

Very long fight by Tananta ended in quarter-final

August 28, 2008

From women's circuit tournament in Nonthaburi, Thailand with total prize money of US $ 10.000, 8th seed Lavinia Tananta sent home immediately after she lost in quarter-final. In 2nd round, Tananta cruised past a qualifier, Yang Zi Jun of Hong Kong which lasted in 2 days. Yesterday afternoon, the two players put an intense battle and Yang took 6-3 in the opening set. Since both Tananta and Yang had similar game, therefore long rallies were involved indeed. Tananta was tougher in critical points and closed it out 6-4. In the final set, Tananta became more confident and she led comfortably 3-1 then the match was delayed due to rain.

This morning both players resumed their final set and Tananta played better than Yang to secure game, set and match, 6-1. Tananta had no choice to play her quarter-final less than an hour later. With Khonkhan's winner, Lu Jia Jing of China (WTA 614) was in the opposite side of the net, Tananta tried to hang tough during the match. Nevertheless, 19 years old Lu played more agressive and in the end she won 6-3, 7-6(3) over Tananta.

Rizal Mallarangeng Open: 7th seed Jogasuria lost instantly

August 28, 2008

"Rizal Mallarangeng Open" which is part of "Garuda Indonesia Tennis Series" completed its 4th day at Sultan Hotel Tennis Complex yesterday. Prior to this 3rd leg, this tourney was held in Jakarta and Surabaya and it is exclusively organized by "Sportama". "Sportama" is managed by former Indonesian tennis queen, Angelique Widjaja and former national player, Teddy Tanjung.

In women's singles, the only upset happened when 7th seed Angelina Jogasuria bowed out to Laili Rahmawati Ulfa. Jogasuria lost 6-2, 4-6, 2-6 in 1st round. Other seeded players breezed through 2nd round with not much sweat. Top seed and wild card, Sandy Gumulya gunned down wild card Jean Valeria 6-0, 6-1. Gold medalist of recent "PON" or "National Games", Ayu Fani Damayanti was challenged by Bella Destriana but the Balinese girl prevailed 6-3, 6-3 eventually. Other winners were 3rd seed Liza Andriyani and 4th seed Grace Sari Ysidora. Andriyani defeated 13 years old Puspa Ratih 6-0, 6-0, while Ysidora crushed Asifa Ramadhani 6-1, 6-0.

In women's doubles, 2nd seed Sandy Gumulya/Angelique Widjaja did not have to work hard at all in 1st round. Duo Gumulya/Widjaja won 6-0, 6-0 easily over young and veteran pair, Michelle Sanger/Luciana Lolong. Top seed pair, Liza Andriyani/Ayu Fani Damayanti also won 6-0, 6-0 over young pair Jean Valeria/Vanesa Wiratama.

In men's singles, the most interesting 2nd round match was between 8th seed, Hendri Susilo Pramono and qualifier Dadang AR. Veteran Dadang put a tough fight along the battle but lost 7-6(5) 3-6, 6-7(7) to inconsistent Pramono. Top seed and wild card, Elbert Sie won easily over Bani Kohar Harahap, 6-1, 6-1, while 2nd seed Sunu Wahyu Trijati crushed qualifier, Kurnia Suranto also 6-1, 6-1. All men's seeded players sailed through 3rd round and fans could expect some grueling 3rd round matches today.

Another upset happened in men's doubles. In 2nd round, young pair Faisal Aidil/David Agung Susanto shocked 7th seed duo, Ariawan Poerbo Adinoto/Ferdy Fauzi. Aidil/Susanto defeated their senior Adinoto/Fauzi 6-3, 5-0 ret.

Photo by Adji Soedibjo at Sportama 1st serie 2008

Rungkat into 3rd round, Rompies & Gumulya failed in 2nd round

August 27, 2008

"Canadian Open Junior Championships 2008" continued its second day at Club De Tennis Repentigny Parc Larochelle in Repentigny, Quebec. In boys' singles main draw of this grade 1 tourney, 8th seed Christopher Rungkat after he got 1st round bye, he managed to beat qualifier, Nikoloz Basilashvili (ITF 196) of Georgia comfortably 6-3, 6-3. In 3rd round, Rungkat will face 11th seed, Pablo Carreno-Busta (Spain/ITF 34).

In girls' singles, our number one junior player Jessy Rompies did not create same result as Rungkat after she had also 1st round bye. As 4th seed, in 2nd round Rompies crashed out immediately when she lost 6-4, 3-6, 2-6 to 15 years old lucky loser, Nicole Gibbs (USA/ITF 301). Meanwhile, Beatrice Gumulya (ITF 66) tried her best but eventually lost 4-6, 3-6 to 5th seed Kristina Mladenovic of France. Therefore, Rompies and Gumulya will focus on doubles and this sole Indonesian pair in this tourney is placed as 6th seed.

Photo - courtesy of www.photop.net

Gumulya goes into round 32 in Canada

August 26, 2008

"Canadian Open Junior Championships 2008" started its first day at Club De Tennis Repentigny Parc Larochelle in Repentigny, Quebec. In girls' singles main draw of this grade 1 tourney, yesterday Beatrice Gumulya (ITF 66) did not have to work hard to outclass local wild card, 14 years old Elisabeth Abanda (ITF 903) in round 64. This younger sister of Sandy Gumulya, won easily 6-1, 6-0. In the next round 32, Bea as she likes to be called, will face 5th seed Kristina Mladenovic of France. Mladenovic, still 15 years old is currently at ITF 18 and this summer she grabbed a title at Gerry Weber Junior Open (grade 2) in Halle, Germany.

Meanwhile, Bea's two other fellows - 8th seed Christopher Rungkat (ITF 26) and 4th seed Jessy Rompies (ITF 11) received 1st round bye. This particular tourney in Quebec is a usual warm-up for junior players before they go to US Open Junior next week in New York, USA.

Early exit for Tedjakusuma, Basuki/Tedjakusuma in Tulip land

August 26, 2008

On Monday, August 25, 2008 "Bokx Vastgoed Open 2008" began the 1st day's matches in Vlaardingen, Holland. In the past two years, this tournament provided US $ 10,000 for its total prize money and this year, it was upgraded to total of US $ 25,000. Being held on clay surface, two Indonesian veterans - former tennis queen Yayuk Basuki and third round finisher of Australian Open in 1994, Romana Tedjakusuma were among the entrants in this tourney.

Currently ranked WTA 311, Tedjakusuma repeated the same result as last week in Westende, Belgium. Again, yesterday in 1st round this Surabaya born lost to the same opponent who defeated her last week, Giulia Gabba from Italy. Still ranked WTA 310, Gabba did not waste her opportunity to beat Tedjakusuma, 6-4, 6-0.

Meanwhile, 30 years old pair Basuki/Tedjakusuma put their best effort but they eventually lost 6-4, 1-6, 1-10 to 4th seed, Irina Kuzmina/Anastasia Poltoratskaya (Latvia/Russia) in 1st round.

Tananta passed 1st round in Thai 10K

August 26, 2008

On Monday, August 25, 2008 Lavinia Tananta, the only Indonesian player in the main draw of 10K tourney in Nonthaburi, Thailand - moved into 2nd round. As 8th seed, Tananta, a native of Semarang in Central Java was successful in defeating local wild card, Khunpak Issara, 6-1, 6-3. Currently ranked WTA 563, Tananta tries her best to return into top 500s. She achieved her highest ranking of WTA 484 in March, 2007. This year, her best results were twice as runner-up in 10Ks of Tarakan and Bulungan, both in East Kalimantan, Indonesia. In both finals, Tananta lost to Chen Liang of China.

On Wednesday, August 27, 2008 she is scheduled to play 2nd round against winner of 1st round match between Lu Jia Xiang of China and qualifier, Yang Zi Jun of Hong Kong. Last week in Khonkan 10K, Lu reached semi-final.

In doubles, Tananta partnered with Indian Rushmi Chakravarthi and they had the privilege to be 2nd seed. It was unfortunate, duo Tananta/Chakravarthi lost in 1st round. They bowed out to Chinese pair, Lu Jia Jing/Lu Jia Xiang 3-6, 6-3, 5-10. Both Lu are 19 years old.

Top seed in this 10K is 30 years old Japanese veteran, Seiko Okamoto (WTA 273). This season, Okamoto's best outcome was reaching quarter-final in 25K of Nagano, Japan last May.

Photo by Adji Soedibjo at 2008 Cigna Open

Tedjakusuma, Basuki/Tedjakusuma crashed out in Westende 25K

August 25, 2008

Indonesian veterans, Romana Tedjakusuma and Yayuk Basuki continued their action in challenger tourney of Westende, Belgium this past week. In this 25K event, Romana (WTA 311) instantly was ousted in 1st round after she lost 4-6, 2-6 to 8th seed, Giulia Gabba from Italy. Gabba, 21 years old and was born in Casale Monteferrato and until now she still resides in this town. Currently Gabba is ranked WTA 310, while her best ranking was at WTA 183 in July 2007.

In doubles, Yayuk/Romana showed their fight in three sets but bowed out 6-7(4), 6-2, 8-10 to Belgian pair, Gally De Wael/Caroline Maes. De Wael is 17 years old and is still unranked, while Maes is already 26 years old and right now she is at WTA 291.

The upcoming tourney for both Romana and Yayuk will be another 25K in Vlaardingen, Holland.