Seventh seeded Ayu Fani Damayanti took turn in taking singles and doubles titles at the second leg of "PLDT-SMART ITF Women's Circuit" in Manila, on the land of Cory Aquino. She emulated what her fellow country woman, Lavinia Tananta, created last week when she grabbed singles and doubles titles in the first leg of a tourney with total prize money of $ 10,000 also here in Manila. It was certainly an early yet perfect birthday present for herself today, as this talented Balinese girl will turn 20 years old on November 29, 2008. Only playing her 6th tourneys of the year and just her 2nd overseas tourney in 2008, Damayanti secured her second final in two weeks and overall in her pro career, she has appeared in 8 finals of 10K including these last two in Manila. In terms of 10K's singles titles, she is now having 3 titles after Jakarta in 2005 and 2006.
It was indeed a sweet revenge scored by Damayanti in the final. She lost to her opponent and top seeded Sacha Jones of New Zealand early this year at Group I Asia Oceania Fed Cup Qualifying in Nonthaburi, Thailand. Damayanti's strategy complemented with her strong will paid off in damaging Kiwi rising star with 7-6(5), 6-2 victory. In the semi-final, this "new kid on the block" of the elite camp financed by Martina Widjaja denied the effort of her younger fellow country woman Jessy Rompies and Damayanti won comfortably 6-4, 6-1. It was both players' first ever meeting in overseas and pro circuit despite of many battles between them at national tourneys back home. As for teenager Rompies, she recorded her 4th semi-final appearance of 10K after 2006 in Jakarta and 2007 in Khonkhan and Bangkok both in Thailand.
In the semi-final, talented Kiwi Jones rallied past South Korean Kang Seo-Kyung, 3-6, 7-6(3), 6-1. As runner-up here, it was Jones' best result of the season in 10K. This year this Auckland born and resident has played only one 10K so far away in Toluca, Mexico before these two weeks in Manila. As of now excluding the latest two of Manila 10Ks, Jones has played in 16 tournaments comprised of Auckland Tier 4, Australian Open Grand Slam qualifying, 11 of 25Ks, and twice of 50Ks. Today, she flew right away to Nagoya, Japan as she is listed in the main draw of 75K tourney.
Damayanti who partnered with Rompies and placed as fourth seeded took the doubles title by gunning down qualifier Juan Ting-Fei/Zhong Yi (Chinese Taipei/China) 7-6(2), 6-3 in the final. It was her second doubles title here in Manila after she earned it in 2004 with Septi Mende. In all 10Ks level, Damayanti has appeared in 12 doubles' finals and is collecting total of 8 doubles' titles till now. Her only doubles title this season was with Liza Andriyani at Tarakan last May.
While Rompies continued her impressive and perfect record in 10K's doubles, she is now holding 4 titles of her four final stints. Last year she had two titles in Jakarta and Khonkan, Thailand and yesterday, she made it back to back after last week with Tananta.
Photo of Damayanti is courtesy of www.indotennis.com
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