Rusty Rompies pushed all the way by Darlina

Two top seeds of women’s singles Jessy Rompies and Beatrice Gumulya reached the second round of the 10th Cigna Open at The Executive Club’s Tennis Complex of Sultan Hotel, Jakarta yesterday. While second seed Gumulya had a light workout in her 6-0, 6-3 win over wild card Aldila Sutjiadi, top seed Rompies played an erratic game but she saved by the bell to eventually defeat 13 years old Voni Darlina 6-4, 7-5.

A credit to Darlina who played nothing to lose and demonstrated good fighting spirit against rusty and error prone Rompies. Along the match, Darlina showed her determination, persistency and concentration in answering all this experienced recent Fed Cup member’s strong groundstrokes. In a number of opportunities, Darlina gave some surprising shots back and Rompies either hit into the net or just wide. Rompies did not look fresh as she arrived from Perth, Australia last Monday night and with possible jet lag problem, so she did not have enough body clock recovery despite only two hours time difference between Jakarta and Perth. But it seemed she had no mental toughness after all. Lack of physical fitness was just a typical excuse as the cause of her topsy turvy opening performance. Nevertheless, Rompies’ good second serve, particularly few aces in such serve really helped her to win the match.

In the other match, 18 years old Gumulya proved her longer experience as an advantage to beat 13 years old Sutjiadi. Younger Gumulya committed 16 unforced errors which mostly came from her forehand, while Sutjiadi made 21 unforced errors. Gumulya shot total of 10 winners from her forehand, while her opponent only secured 6 winners. Other match statistics: Gumulya with 58% 1st serve percentage, 1 ace, 1 double fault; Sutjiadi with 62% 1st serve percentage and 2 double faults. In the second set, Gumulya cruised comfortably to lead 5-0 but failed to create double bagel as she sprayed several errors from her racquet so then Sutjiadi was able to earn 3 games in a row. In the end Gumulya regained her own game to close it out 6-3.

Four members of Davis Cup squad all through into the third round. Only third seed Prima Simpatiaji had an easy match, while top seed Christopher Rungkat, second seed Sunu Wahyu Trijati and fifth seed Nesa Arta forced to work harder against their opponents. Big server Simpatiaji did not have much problem to beat former Davis Cup team member, Edy Kusdaryanto 6-1, 6-1. Recent winner of “Garuda Indonesia Tennis Masters” Rungkat was challenged by qualifier Ariawan Poerboadinoto before he won 6-4, 6-4. Rungkat’s statisctics of 81% first serve percentage, 1 ace, 18 winners and 23 unforced errors barely made a victory over Poerboadinoto with 68% first serve percentage, 3 aces, 4 double faults, 13 winners and 27 unforced errors.

Second seed and defending champion Trijati had to utilize all his groundstrokes to end courageous fight by Agung Bagus Dewantoro with 7-6(1), 6-4 victory. While runner-up of “2008 Garuda Indonesia Tennis Masters” Arta faced the challenge of big and tall Dadang AR then only to prevail 7-5, 6-3. A couple of upsets snatched by Michael Christian and Setyo Dwi Andriyanto. Seed number 15 Ganang Suryaatmaja crashed out as Christian came from behind to beat him 4-6, 6-0, 7-6(7). Then it was Andriyanto’s turn to send thirteenth seed Enrico Satria home earlier as Andriyanto posted 6-2, 6-4 victory.

Other players who continued on to the third round such as veteran Bonit Wiryawan,(4)Andrian Raturandang,(6) Faisal Aidil,(7) Surya Wijaya Budi,(8) Sebastian Dacosta,(9) Andery Setyawanto,(10) Aditya Hari Sasongko,(11) David Agung Susanto and last but not least 4 times winner of Cigna Open, 12th seed and father of new baby girl, Febi Widhiyanto.