Tedjakusuma failed into main draw in California

Romana Tedjakusuma is currently world ranked 357 and has resumed her tour after last action in Lutz, Florida in the third week of January, 2009. This week Surabaya born Tedjakusuma placed as 5th seed in the qualifying round at "2009 USTA Women's Pro Challenger of Redding" in Redding, California, USA. In a tourney with total prize money of US $ 25,000 Tedjakusuma had an opening qualifying round bye and yesterday in Q2 or final qualifying she was forced to play three sets and eventually lost to 16 years old and 13th seed Anna Orlik of Belarus 3-6, 6-0, 3-6. Orlik is currently at WTA 730.

Then Tedjakusuma will focus on her doubles as she is partnered with American Story Tweedie-Yates and they are designated as second seed which entitled to get first round bye. In the quarter-final, Tedjakusuma/Tweedie-Yates will face either Christina Mc Hale/Sloane Stephens (USA/USA) or Anna Gerasimou/Ksenia Palkina (Greece/Kyrgiztan).

It was interesting to know that 27 years old Laura Granville of Chicago, USA has returned to the tour after a year hiatus. Granville last appearance was in Midland 75K, Michigan when she claimed the title in February 2008. She reached her highest rank at WTA 28 in 2003. This time, she had to go through qualifying round and she got through as qualifier. She will be up to face an early challenge as she will play top seed Anastasia Yakimova (WTA 95) of Belarus in the first round. Second seed is German Angelique Kerber. Some Japanese are present here and the pack is led by former WTA 4 Kimiko Date-Krumm as seventh seed. Followed by eighth seed Tomoko Yonemura, Aiko Nakamura, Rika Fujiwara and talented Kurumi Nara. One of wild card recipients is Asia Muhammed of USA and she will give her early fight against Japanese Yonemura in the opening round.