Four Indonesians are gearing-up for Australian Summer Circuit

The official entry list of Australian Summer Circuit was released on December 18, 2008 at 5 pm local time in Melbourne. In the first Grade 1 tourney known as "Loy Yang Power Traralgon Junior ITF International" - Beatrice Gumulya is number 9 in the girls' main draw while Grace Sari Ysidora is number 39 out of total 48 direct acceptance. In the mean time, Nadia Frederika is qualifying # 6. In the boys' main draw, David Agung Susanto is barely listed as number 47 out of total 48 entrants. This first warm-up tourney for Aussie Open will begin on January 9, 2009 in Traralgon, Victoria.

The second warm-up Grade 1 tourney is entitled "Optus Nottinghill Junior ITF International" and only Gumulya is eligible in the girls' main draw at number 14. Ysidora is listed as number 9 in qualifying round, while Frederika is still alternate number 4. The only boy Susanto is at number 12 in qualifying round. The main draw of this tourney will start on January 16, 2009 in Nottinghill, Victoria.

And the moment of truth, the first grand slam of the new season or "Australian Open Junior Championships" is not much different parade of players as Gumulya is number 17 in the girls' main draw. Ysidora is number 17 in qualifying, while Frederika is still alternate number 13. Last but not least, Susanto is number 17 in the boys' qualifying list. The main draw will not be played until January 25, 2009.

The newly crowned Junior World Champion by ITF, currently world numero uno Noppawan "Nok" Lertcheewakarn of Thailand is placed as top seed in all these three tournaments. She became the first Asian ever to receive such top honour. Lertcheewakarn finished at 2008 Wimby as runner-up and won doubles' title at 2008 US Open with Sweden's Sandra Roma.

For the boys, Yang Tsung-Hua also got the same crown and the first ever Asian player to get this honor. Yang clinched the year-end No. 1 ranking at last week’s Junior Orange Bowl, the final tournament of the season. The 17-year-old from Chinese Taipei captured his first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros, and was also a finalist at the Australian Open and semifinalist at the US Open. Yang also captured two Grand Slam doubles titles with countryman Hsieh Cheng-Peng, at the Australian Open and Wimbledon. He finished the season with a 20-7 record in singles and 25-6 in doubles. Yang is not competing in this upcoming Aussie summer circuit.

Photo of Gumulya is courtesy of indotennis.com

Photo of Ysidora is courtesy of Dwi Ari Setyadi