The optimum outcome by Grace Sari Ysidora ended in the semi-final of "LTAT Dunlop Thailand Open" in Nonthaburi, Thailand this morning. Playing against top seed and world junior ranked number 9, Timea Babos of Hungary, eventually Ysidora lost 3-6, 4-6. As she herself informed, she acknowledged that her opponent was better in terms of her power. Particularly in the first set, Ysidora did not do well in her returns but then in the second set she gradually picked her usual return and she started to challenge Babos. In the end, she was defeated and failed to reach the final.
Ysidora seemed quite pleased with this result as she ended-up as semi-finalist in ITF Grade 1 tourney for the very first time. In addition, she earned 80 rank points. In doubles, with Natchanok Saenyaukhot and as fourth seed pair, duo Saenyaukhot/Ysidora bowed out to second seed local pair, Khunpak Issara/Kanyapat Narattana 6-4, 2-6, 4-10. Such result was really good as Ysidora partnered with Saenyaukhot for the first time, while duo Issara/Narattana have been playing together several times before.
Saenyaukhot as seventh seed in singles, also got the same outcome as her doubles partner. In the other last four round battle, Saenyaukhot was beaten by fifth seed Maryna Zanevska of Ukraine 2-6, 6-7(4). Zanevska a month ago claimed her title at ITF Grade 2 tourney in Tunisia and in the final she will face top seed Babos tomorrow.
Jumat, 13 Maret 2009
Kamis, 12 Maret 2009
Grace Sari Ysidora into semi-final in beautiful Thailand
World ranked ITF 129 Grace Sari Ysidora and is placed as eleventh seed here at “LTAT Dunlop Thailand Open” in Nonthaburi, Thailand booked her first ever semi-final in ITF Grade 1 tourney. Today in her first ever quarter-final of ITF Grade 1 also, Ysidora cruised past wild card Napatsakorn Sankaew of Thailand 6-1, 7-5. In contest against same age player, in the opening set Ysidora applied her attacking game well though Sankaew has improved quite significant in terms of her game quality. The Thai girl imposed her typical long rallies but Ysidora showed her solid self-esteem to play consistent in shooting back to her opponent to create points. The Batak girl comfortably took the 1st set 6-1. In the second set, Ysidora could not maintain her own game and quickly trailed 1-3 but then she regrouped herself to fight back till she was up 5-4. Then number two Indonesian junior player experienced pressure to win which made her lost concentration. It was Sankaew’s turn to gain one game to make it 5-5. After all, Ysidora managed to regain her composure and sealed 7-5 victory.
Now Ysidora leads 2-0 in her head to head with Sankaew. Grace was motivated to play all out after her early exit at Jakarta Grade 2 last week. She has been finding back her own game so far and it has been paid off as she could reach semi-final of ITF Grade 1 for the very first time.
Tough battle in the semi-final against top seed Timea Babos of Hungary who is currently at ITF 9. Ysidora is very familiar with Babos although she had no meeting before with talented Babos. Babos was born only five days earlier than Ysidora and she is from Sopron, Hungary. Her maiden title she got at ITF Grade 3 in Sarawak, Malaysia in 2007. Then second title came for Babos in the mid of January 2009 at “Copa Gatorade” which is an ITF Grade 1 tourney in Venezuela. Her best performance so far was as semi-finalist at an ITF Grade A known as “31st International Casablanca Junior Cup” in Mexico in early January 2009. Babos had beaten former Indonesian numero uno Jessy Rompies at an ITF Grade 1 tourney in Sarawak in March 2008, and Babos edged past Rompies 6-1, 1-6, 6-1.
In doubles Ysidora paired with fourth seed Thai, Natchanok Saenyaukhot, who also cruised into singles’ semi-final to face fifth seed Maryna Zanevska of Ukraine. Duet Saenyaukhot/Ysidora is fourth seed and got first round bye (draw 24). In the second round yesterday, Saenyaukhot/Ysidora saw-off combo of India/Turkmenistan, Sharmada Balu/Anastasiya Prenko 6-3, 6-3. In the quarter-final today, duo Thailand Indonesia denied the challenge of Czech Republic pair and sixth seed, Denisa Allertova/Monika Tumova 4-6, 6-4, 10-5. In the semi-final tomorrow, Saenyaukhot/Ysidora will face local duet and second seed, Khunpak Issara/Kanyapat Narattana.
Photo of Grace Sari Ysidora by Adji Soedibjo
Sandy Gumulya into quarter-final in Pokare kare ana land
From “ASB Pro Circuit” tournament with total prize money of US $ 10,000 which is now held in North Shore City, New Zealand, top seed Selandia Baru, Sandy Gumulya won quite easy over her club friend Ayu Fani Damayanti 6-1, 6-3 in the second round today. In the quarter-final tomorrow, Gumulya will clash with Ana-Clara Duarte of Brazil. In her second round match, Duarte was forced to work hard by young Thai, Varatchaya Wongteanchai before she made it through 7-5, 2-6, 6-4. Duarte was born in Rio De Janeiro and is now ranked at WTA 448. Still 19 years old, Duarte has two singles’ titles from tourneys of US $ 10,000 in Benin City, Nigeria in March 2007 and from La Habana, Cuba in December 2008. Her best outcome of her career was at Carson, California 50K when she finished in the second round last June.
Meanwhile Jessy Rompies, a qualifier, eventually fell today. Rompies bowed out to fifth seed South Korean, Chae Kyung-Yee 7-6(6), 5-7, 0-6. In the final set when Chae was up 1-0, rain fell and the match was suspended. Early exit was experienced by Lavinia Tananta as she was beaten by South Korean qualifier, Kim Hae-Sung 2-6, 3-6 in the first round. In doubles, duo Damayanti/Tananta also barely lost to Aussie pair, Alison Bai/Renee Binnie 6-3, 3-6, 7-10 in the quarter-final.
Photo of Sandy Gumulya by Adji Soedibjo
Rabu, 11 Maret 2009
Thai ITF Grade 1 - Ysidora romped into quarter-final
From “LTAT Junior Championships” tournament in Nonthaburi, Thailand, number two Indonesian junior player, Grace Sari Ysidora, an eleventh seed here continued her run when she crushed Zhao Di of China 6-0, 6-2 in third round (round 16). As of now, Ysidora leads her head to head with Zhao 2-1. Last September in Beijing, Ysidora had no mercy to beat Zhao 6-0, 6-0 at an ITF Grade 2 tourney called “China Open”, then Zhao earned her revenge by defeating Ysidora 6-1, 6-4 at an ITF Grade B1 tournament entitled “Balikpapan International Junior Championships” in late October 2008. Armed with her typical attacking game, as counter puncher, Ysidora showed her confidence to face her good friend off-court and she did not let Zhao to execute her own game at all.
Only playing in her fifth ITF Grade 1 tourney after Thailand and Sarawak last year and then early this season at Traralgon and Nottinghill both in Australia, eventually Ysidora claimed her first ever quarter-final of Grade 1. Such a breakthrough indeed for this talented young girl and definitely it will help her world ranking to improve next week.
In the last eight round tomorrow, Ysidora will face local wild card Napatsakorn Sankaew. A player who is also 15 years old same as Ysidora, Sankaew shocked fourth seed Kanyapat Narattana of Thailand in tight battle, 7-6(3), 7-6(4). Ysidora and Sankaew had played before at Thailand ITF Grade 2 tourney in October 2008 and back then Ysidora saw-off Sankaew 6-2, 6-2. Sankaew’s best outcome was at ITF Grade 4 tourney in Thailand last year when she was a semi-finalist.
Meanwhile, bad loss experienced by David Agung Susanto in doubles. Partnered with Malaysian Juan Antonio Los Santos, duo Indonesia and Malaysia instantly lost to local pair, Adirek Khundarnpinitvon/Paninthon Pakpoomkamol, 6-4, 3-6, 9-11 in the opening round.
Other third round results of girls’ singles:
1-Timea Babos (Hungaria) d 14-Nicha Lertpitaksinchai 6-4, 6-4
6-Hannah James (Inggris) d Mai Grage (Denmark) 7-5, 6-3
4-Natchanok Saenyaukhot (Thailand) d Q-Nahathai Khuntaket (Thailand) 6-1, 6-4
Liu, Min (China) d 16-Kobkanok Upapong (Thailand) 2-6, 7-6(4), 6-4
5-Maryna Zanevska (Ukraina) d Yang Zi (China) 7-6(5), 63
2-Khunpak Issara (Thailand) d 13-Juan Ting-Fei (China Taipei) 7-6(3), 6-1
Photo of Grace Sari Ysidora by Adji Soedibjo
Selasa, 10 Maret 2009
From the King and I palace: Ysidora won, Susanto fell
Different results posted by two Indonesian junior players, Grace Sari Ysidora and David Agung Susanto in their participation at “LTAT Junior Championships”, the highest junior tourney owned by Thailand with category of ITF Grade 1. This popular tourney is held at LTAT Tennis Complex in Nonthaburi, less than an hour away from Victory Monument area, in Bangkok.
Ranked at ITF 129, Ysidora is placed as 11th seed and she received first round bye (draw 48). In the second round today, the Batak girl crushed lefty South Korean, Hong Seung-Yeon 6-1, 6-0. In their first meeting, Ysidora defeated Hong in the final of “Oneject International Junior Championships” (ITF Grade 4) in July 2008 in Bandung. As information, Hong is actually still fresh from her maiden title from ITF Grade 4 in Bangladesh in early February 2009. Then she became semi-finalist at ITF Grade 3 tourney in Bangladesh, too.
In the third round (round 16) tomorrow, Ysidora will play against her friend, Zhao Di (ITF 383) from China. In the second round today, Zhao surprised eighth seed Kyra Shroff of India with 6-0, 6-1 victory. In their first clash, Ysidora won easily over Zhao 6-0, 6-0 in the second round of China Open, an ITF Grade 2 tourney in Beijing last September. Then a month later at “Balikpapan International Junior Championships” – an ITF Grade B1, Zhao claimed her revenge as she defeated her friend, Ysidora 6-1, 6-4 also in the second round. In doubles, Ysidora is partnered with local Natchanok Saenyaukhot and they are designated as fourth seed, so they got first round bye today.
Bad news came from Indonesian number one junior player, David Agung Susanto (ITF 117). Hailed from Semarang, Central Java, Susanto bowed out to “lucky loser” Venkat Iyer of India 6-7(5), 1-6.
Ranked at ITF 129, Ysidora is placed as 11th seed and she received first round bye (draw 48). In the second round today, the Batak girl crushed lefty South Korean, Hong Seung-Yeon 6-1, 6-0. In their first meeting, Ysidora defeated Hong in the final of “Oneject International Junior Championships” (ITF Grade 4) in July 2008 in Bandung. As information, Hong is actually still fresh from her maiden title from ITF Grade 4 in Bangladesh in early February 2009. Then she became semi-finalist at ITF Grade 3 tourney in Bangladesh, too.
In the third round (round 16) tomorrow, Ysidora will play against her friend, Zhao Di (ITF 383) from China. In the second round today, Zhao surprised eighth seed Kyra Shroff of India with 6-0, 6-1 victory. In their first clash, Ysidora won easily over Zhao 6-0, 6-0 in the second round of China Open, an ITF Grade 2 tourney in Beijing last September. Then a month later at “Balikpapan International Junior Championships” – an ITF Grade B1, Zhao claimed her revenge as she defeated her friend, Ysidora 6-1, 6-4 also in the second round. In doubles, Ysidora is partnered with local Natchanok Saenyaukhot and they are designated as fourth seed, so they got first round bye today.
Bad news came from Indonesian number one junior player, David Agung Susanto (ITF 117). Hailed from Semarang, Central Java, Susanto bowed out to “lucky loser” Venkat Iyer of India 6-7(5), 1-6.
From Kiwi land with early wins
Three recent members of Fed Cup team, Sandy Gumulya, Ayu Fani Damayanti and Jessy Rompies passed their opening round and through into second round of “ASB Pro Circuit” tournament with total prize money of US $ 10,000 in North Shore City, New Zealand today. Indonesian numero uno, Gumulya is top seed here but she was forced to play tough battle by 18 years old, Alenka Hubacek of Australia. Gumulya is currently at WTA 293 and she faced difficulty in anticipating grueling fight from world ranked 545 Hubacek. Only saved by the bell, Gumulya barely prevailed to escape an Aussie’s scare, 7-5, 3-6, 7-6(4). Hubacek’s best record came true when she was given a wild card but managed to finish as quarter-finalist of Kawana 25K, Australia last September.
Being rusty was certainly experienced by world ranked 564 Damayanti, too. She had to work hard to earn her spot in the second round. Probably she have been slept in the opening round or had “day dream” as she crushed easily by silver medalist at 2007 SEA Games, Nudnida Luangnam or June from Thailand. Damayanti lost 0-6 in the first set, but then she bounced back to win 6-4, 6-2. In the next round, she will face her compatriot, Gumulya and so far the top seed still leads 4-1 in her international meetings with Damayanti. Meanwhile, in the last national circuit, Gumulya lost to the Balinese girl in the round-robin match during “Garuda Indonesia Tennis Masters” last December.
Youngest of the pack, Jessy Rompies, a qualifier here also got through into second round same as her seniors. In the opening round this morning, Rompies (WTA 720) secured her win after defeating Japanese Yurina Koshino (WTA 612) 6-4, 6-3. As 7th seed in qualifying round, Rompies saw off another Japanese, Etsuko Kitazaki 6-3, 6-0 in Q1. Then in Q2 or final qualifying, she edged past 16th seed Australian, Julia Moriarty, 6-0, 7-5. In the second round on Thursday, Rompies will challenge fifth seed and 28 years old South Korean, Chae Kyung-Yee. Chae is now at WTA 369 and had her best outcome of 2008 season when she became runner-up at Miyazaki 25K, Japan and only beaten by former WTA 4 in 1995, Kimiko Date-Krumm.
Another member of Fed Cup squad, Lavinia Tananta (WTA 565), will play her opening round tomorrow against South Korean qualifier, Kim Hae-Sung (WTA 676). In doubles, only Damayanti and Tananta are paired, while Gumulya and Rompies are only playing singles. Today duo Damayanti/Tananta cruised past second seed pair, Nicole Clerico/Ana Clara-Duarte (Italy/Brazil) 7-6(4), 6-3. In the quarter-final, Indonesian duet will clash with Aussie pair, Alison Bai/Renee Binnie. Bai/Binnie won their opening round over local wild card, Luci Barlow/Dianne Hollands 7-5, 6-2.
Based on my observation, Gumulya actually had entered 50 K in Clearwater, Florida (February 23 to March 1, 2009) and also 25 K in Fort Walton Beach, Florida (March 2-8, 2009). Then unsurprised news came when Gumulya was ordered by her manager and her coach at the “elite” camp owned by “Big Mama” to withdraw from North American tour. As consequence, she got fine in US dollars. In my opinion, bosses at the “elite” camp are concerned with Gumulya’s world rank as it is approaching 300 now. Most likely they thought that it will be easier for Gumulya to grab title here or simply to boost her confidence back. But the biggest stake holder of Indonesian tennis, the crazy fans think that all in all Gumulya’s game quality is still suitable to 10K level. Indeed, such “beauty” of Indonesian tennis nowadays! Truly pathetic!
Being rusty was certainly experienced by world ranked 564 Damayanti, too. She had to work hard to earn her spot in the second round. Probably she have been slept in the opening round or had “day dream” as she crushed easily by silver medalist at 2007 SEA Games, Nudnida Luangnam or June from Thailand. Damayanti lost 0-6 in the first set, but then she bounced back to win 6-4, 6-2. In the next round, she will face her compatriot, Gumulya and so far the top seed still leads 4-1 in her international meetings with Damayanti. Meanwhile, in the last national circuit, Gumulya lost to the Balinese girl in the round-robin match during “Garuda Indonesia Tennis Masters” last December.
Youngest of the pack, Jessy Rompies, a qualifier here also got through into second round same as her seniors. In the opening round this morning, Rompies (WTA 720) secured her win after defeating Japanese Yurina Koshino (WTA 612) 6-4, 6-3. As 7th seed in qualifying round, Rompies saw off another Japanese, Etsuko Kitazaki 6-3, 6-0 in Q1. Then in Q2 or final qualifying, she edged past 16th seed Australian, Julia Moriarty, 6-0, 7-5. In the second round on Thursday, Rompies will challenge fifth seed and 28 years old South Korean, Chae Kyung-Yee. Chae is now at WTA 369 and had her best outcome of 2008 season when she became runner-up at Miyazaki 25K, Japan and only beaten by former WTA 4 in 1995, Kimiko Date-Krumm.
Another member of Fed Cup squad, Lavinia Tananta (WTA 565), will play her opening round tomorrow against South Korean qualifier, Kim Hae-Sung (WTA 676). In doubles, only Damayanti and Tananta are paired, while Gumulya and Rompies are only playing singles. Today duo Damayanti/Tananta cruised past second seed pair, Nicole Clerico/Ana Clara-Duarte (Italy/Brazil) 7-6(4), 6-3. In the quarter-final, Indonesian duet will clash with Aussie pair, Alison Bai/Renee Binnie. Bai/Binnie won their opening round over local wild card, Luci Barlow/Dianne Hollands 7-5, 6-2.
Based on my observation, Gumulya actually had entered 50 K in Clearwater, Florida (February 23 to March 1, 2009) and also 25 K in Fort Walton Beach, Florida (March 2-8, 2009). Then unsurprised news came when Gumulya was ordered by her manager and her coach at the “elite” camp owned by “Big Mama” to withdraw from North American tour. As consequence, she got fine in US dollars. In my opinion, bosses at the “elite” camp are concerned with Gumulya’s world rank as it is approaching 300 now. Most likely they thought that it will be easier for Gumulya to grab title here or simply to boost her confidence back. But the biggest stake holder of Indonesian tennis, the crazy fans think that all in all Gumulya’s game quality is still suitable to 10K level. Indeed, such “beauty” of Indonesian tennis nowadays! Truly pathetic!
Sabtu, 07 Maret 2009
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