Rompies' rustytale continues on

"10th Cigna Open" with total prize money of 200 million rupiahs completed quarter-finals in men's and women's singles category yesterday at Tennis Complex of Sultan Hotel's Executive Club in Jakarta yesterday. Top seed Jessy Rompies faced eighth seed and 15 years old Cynthia Melita from Salatiga, Central Java. It was truly a battle between a member and former member of "Big Mama" camp. Last year Melita Melita was trained at the elite camp owned by affluent Martina Widjaja for few months. Then she decided to leave the controversial camp with personal reason.

Rompies along the match still played an erratic game but with her solid groundstrokes she managed to take 6-1 in the opening set. Melita put more pressure by hitting strong forehand which made her older opponent to be frustrated. Rompies looked fragile mentally and as results, she made number of unforced errors. Melita's persistent effort paid-off as she closed the second set 6-4. In the final set, long rallies colored the match and Melita kept on shooting the balls into the baseline but eventually Rompies secured her semi-final spot with 6-1 victory.

Second seed and wild card, Beatrice Gumulya also faced another challenge by sixth seed Laili Rahmawati Ulfa but in the end Gumulya prevailed to win 6-3, 7-5. Third seed Grace Sari Ysidora played very bad in the first set as her improved opponent, a qualifier Angelika Jogasuria showed her typical flat two-handed forehand and backhand. Despite her sluggish performance, Ysidora took the first set 6-4. In the second set, 15 years old Ysidora slightly changed her game pattern and did not have trouble to finish the second set 6-1. Last but not least a "veteran" among the top four seeds, fourth seed Mia Sacca had such an easy match and defeated first time quarter-finalist in senior pro, Rani Fitria Wardhani, 6-3, 6-1. It will be perfect semi-finals as all top four seeds through. Rompies will be tested against Sacca while Gumulya will be challenged by Ysidora.

In men's singles, top seed Christopher Rungkat had a little scare in the first set, but he romped in the second set to secure his 6-4, 6-2 victory over 10th seed tall Aditya Hari Sasongko. Second seed and defending champion Sunu Wahyu Trijati did not have much problem to oust first time quarter-finalist in senior pro, 17 years old David Agung Susanto, 6-2, 6-0. In the battle of Davis Cup team mates, fifth seed Nesa Arta won back to back against third seed Prima Simpatiaji 6-2, 6-3. In the previous meeting, Arta also defeated Simpatiaji at "2008 Garuda Indonesia Tennis Masters". The longest match was between fourth seed Andrian Raturandang and eighth seed Sebastian Dacosta as both players demonstrated a contest of variety of groundstrokes. Raturandang came from behind to beat Dacosta 2-6, 6-2, 6-3. In today's semi-finals, Rungkat will play against 32 years old Raturandang, while Trijati will face Arta.