"Indonesia International Junior Championships", an ITF Grade 2 tourney eventually ended today at Kemayoran Tennis Center. As per request of several players who had to catch flight to Bangkok, Thailand at 4 pm, the referee agreed to hold three finals of boys' singles, girls' singles and girls' doubles simultaneously.
Second seed Huang Liang-Chi of Chinese Taipei played his typical game with solid consistency from the baseline against third seed German Dominik Schulz in boys' singles final. It was pretty much a close battle between the two players particularly in the opening set. In the end Huang could prevail with 6-4, 6-3 victory and gave himself an early birthday present as he would turn 17 years old tomorrow (March 8, 2009). A familiar face for Indonesian players, Huang had played 5 tourneys in Indonesia prior to his participation here at Jakarta Grade 2 this week. He could not be happier as he made a breakthrough in claiming his first ever singles title of his career here.
Meanwhile, a fairytale continued with happy ending when qualifier Zheng Sai Sai of Shenzhen, China grabbed the second title of her junior career after ITF Grade 4 in Surabaya last year. Zheng managed to beat eighth seed Juan Ting-Fei of Chinese Taipei 7-5, 6-2 and denied her opponent to earn third title after Brunei and Chinese Taipei. In the opening set Zheng quickly secured 4 games in a row. In the 4th game, Juan made a terrible mistake when she served two double faults, but then she broke back to be on board, 1-4. Juan kept on fighting and forced to tie at 4 all when Zheng began to spray errors from her racquet. During the match, Zheng was smarter in executing her pace by mixing many high-bounced top spins and lobs at the same time. On the other hand, despite Juan's solid groundstrokes especially her forehand and one-handed backhand, she made costly problems in terms of shot selection. Zheng fought back to lead 5-4, then Juan held her serve to level it up 5 all. From then on, Zheng kept the ball in play and kept on retrieving balls till she closed it out 7-5. In the second set, Zheng did not waste her time to lead 5-1, 5-2 and finally, when Juan shot her forehand wide, Zheng looked so relief as she won 6-2. Nevertheless, it is fine to say that the "real final" was in the opening round when Zheng pushed seventh seed Grace Sari Ysidora to the limits and eventually defeated local fave Batak girl, 5-7, 6-3, 7-6(1).
In the whole match Zheng posted 83% first serve percentage, 14 winners and 40 unforced errors, while Juan made 72% first serve percentage, 4 double faults, 15 winners, 50 unforced errors. With this new title, Zheng's rank will jump from current ITF 517 to top 250s.
In boys' doubles final, third seed pair Huang Liang-Chi/Vaidik Munshaw (Chinese Taipei/India) came from behind to beat fourth seed duo Samuel Barry/Zachary White (Ireland/Canada) 2-6, 6-3, 10-5. Huang added his 7th doubles' title of his junior career now and today's title is his 3rd title on Indonesian soil. While Munshaw is now collecting total of four doubles' titles after two from ITF Grade 5 Pakistan and one from ITF Grade 5 Sri Lanka last year.
In girls' doubles final, top seed duo Beatrice Gumulya/Kanyapat Narattana (Indonesia/Thailand) edged past Dong Xiaorong/Yang Zhaoxuan of China 7-6(1), 6-2. In their fourth time doubles' partnership, here Gumulya/Narattana claimed their second title together as a pair after "Optus Nottinghill International", an ITF Grade 1 tourney in Nottinghill, Victoria, Australia right before Aussie Open 2009.
Photos of Juan, Zheng, Schulz & Huang by Adji Soedibjo
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