Tedjakusuma keeps inspiring despite losses in singles & doubles

Romana Tedjakusuma has not found her good form yet so far, but indeed she is still inspiring many people and personally, I hope the younger players could learn from what she has been doing till now. No doubt, she is very committed and at the same time very discipline athlete. In her first tourney of 2009 season at "Champion Porsche $ 25,000 Challenger" in Boca Raton, Florida, Tedjakusuma was placed as fourth seed in the singles' qualifying round. In the first round of qualifying, this Surabaya born saw off Jasmina Tinjic of Croatia 6-3, 6-3. On January 11, 2009 when both players battled on clay court, Tedjakusuma was ranked at WTA 359 while 17 years old Tinjic was at WTA 541. In the second round of qualifying 15 years old Croat Ajla Tomljanovic beaten 32 years old "veteran" and the scoreline was 6-4, 6-2. At that time, Tomljanovic was at WTA 973. Eventually Tomljanovic cruised through into the main draw and she made a major upset by defeating 24 years old top seed and experienced Angela Haynes from USA (WTA 141) in quite grueling match which she prevailed 7-6(6), 4-6, 6-1 in the first round.

Despite only playing ITF junior circuit called "31st International Casablanca Junior Cup" in Tlalnepantla, Mexico prior to this sunshine Florida tourney, Tomljanovic gained benefit with six matches on hard court as warm-up which then truly paid-off. Playing her seventh Grade A tourneys of her career, finally second seed Tomljanovic (ITF 16) got her maiden title in ITF junior circuit upon defeating top seed Ana Bogdan of Romania (ITF 6) 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(5).

Returning to inspiring Tedjakusuma, in doubles she partnered with Tetiana Luzhanska of Ukraine for eight times cooperation. In the opening round, they outclassed Argentinian duo, Soledad Esperon/Florencia Molinero 6-2, 6-1. In the quarter-final, duet Luzhanska/Tedjakusuma lost to second seed US pair Christina Fusano/Angela Haynes 4-6, 3-6.

Once recorded as round 32 finisher at 1994 Aussie Open, Tedjakusuma continued on to play qualifying round at "Ace Sports Group Tennis Classic" in Lutz, Florida. Still being held on clay and with the same amount of $ 25,000 in total prize money, the top seed of qualifying round was wild card and 32 years old Mashona Lakuta Washington of USA, while Tedjakusuma placed as seventh seed. In the opening round of qualifying, Tedjakusuma dispatched South African Kelly Anderson 6-2, 6-1. Then in second round of qualifying, Tedjakusuma experienced "de javu" as she lost to Mirjana Lucic of Croatia 3-6, 3-6. Lucic is now 26 years old and is a resident of Tampa, Florida. Once she was known as "wonder kid" when she became semi-finalist at 1999 Wimbledon and also reached her highest rank ever at WTA 32. This week Lucic is ranked at WTA 434 and she surely traveled all the way to this tourney from a Sony Ericsson WTA Tour's International Series known as "ASB Classic" in Auckland, New Zealand when she bowed out to Anne Keothavong of Great Britain 4-6, 2-6 in the first round.

Pairing-up again with Luzhanska in doubles, in the first round this duo of Ukraine and Indonesia clinched their victory over Simona Dobra/Monika Kochanova (Czech Republic/Slovakia) 7-6(4), 6-0. In the last eight round, Luzhanska/Tedjakusuma had to pack-up their belongings after they got defeated by third seed US pair, Story Tweedie-Yates/Mashona Lakuta Washington 6-2, 4-6, 7-10.