Nadia Frederika regained her confidence to win Singapore Grade 5

Top seeded Nadia Frederika demonstrated her excellent form and brought home the singles title of "HEAD Singapore ITF Junior Championships" an ITF Grade 5 tourney at Kallang Tennis Centre, in the Mecca of shopping parade of the region. On Saturday's final, Frederika faced strong competition by second seeded Singaporean, Stefanie Li-Yun Tan. Both players were for the first time battling each other. Jakarta resident who has been trained at International Tennis Academy in Delray Beach, Florida barely took the opening set, 6-4. Then this potential Singaporean who had the exposure of training with Daniel Heryanta, a former Indonesian player and currently is still coaching in the land of Asian Idol Hady Mirza, fought back and forced the rubber with 7-5 victory. In the final set, a rejuvenated Frederika came through with sizzling groundstrokes that wore out Tan, who could only secured one game in the third set. Nevertheless, long and tight rally exchanges between the two girls were the "main course" along the match.

Now Frederika added her second singles titles after Mexico Grade 5 in 2007 when she claimed her maiden title in ITF junior circuit.

Photo is courtesy of Sarawak Lawn Tennis Association

Resurgent Damayanti claimed two titles at Manila 10K as Indonesia maintained its clean sweep

Seventh seeded Ayu Fani Damayanti took turn in taking singles and doubles titles at the second leg of "PLDT-SMART ITF Women's Circuit" in Manila, on the land of Cory Aquino. She emulated what her fellow country woman, Lavinia Tananta, created last week when she grabbed singles and doubles titles in the first leg of a tourney with total prize money of $ 10,000 also here in Manila. It was certainly an early yet perfect birthday present for herself today, as this talented Balinese girl will turn 20 years old on November 29, 2008. Only playing her 6th tourneys of the year and just her 2nd overseas tourney in 2008, Damayanti secured her second final in two weeks and overall in her pro career, she has appeared in 8 finals of 10K including these last two in Manila. In terms of 10K's singles titles, she is now having 3 titles after Jakarta in 2005 and 2006.

It was indeed a sweet revenge scored by Damayanti in the final. She lost to her opponent and top seeded Sacha Jones of New Zealand early this year at Group I Asia Oceania Fed Cup Qualifying in Nonthaburi, Thailand. Damayanti's strategy complemented with her strong will paid off in damaging Kiwi rising star with 7-6(5), 6-2 victory. In the semi-final, this "new kid on the block" of the elite camp financed by Martina Widjaja denied the effort of her younger fellow country woman Jessy Rompies and Damayanti won comfortably 6-4, 6-1. It was both players' first ever meeting in overseas and pro circuit despite of many battles between them at national tourneys back home. As for teenager Rompies, she recorded her 4th semi-final appearance of 10K after 2006 in Jakarta and 2007 in Khonkhan and Bangkok both in Thailand.

In the semi-final, talented Kiwi Jones rallied past South Korean Kang Seo-Kyung, 3-6, 7-6(3), 6-1. As runner-up here, it was Jones' best result of the season in 10K. This year this Auckland born and resident has played only one 10K so far away in Toluca, Mexico before these two weeks in Manila. As of now excluding the latest two of Manila 10Ks, Jones has played in 16 tournaments comprised of Auckland Tier 4, Australian Open Grand Slam qualifying, 11 of 25Ks, and twice of 50Ks. Today, she flew right away to Nagoya, Japan as she is listed in the main draw of 75K tourney.

Damayanti who partnered with Rompies and placed as fourth seeded took the doubles title by gunning down qualifier Juan Ting-Fei/Zhong Yi (Chinese Taipei/China) 7-6(2), 6-3 in the final. It was her second doubles title here in Manila after she earned it in 2004 with Septi Mende. In all 10Ks level, Damayanti has appeared in 12 doubles' finals and is collecting total of 8 doubles' titles till now. Her only doubles title this season was with Liza Andriyani at Tarakan last May.

While Rompies continued her impressive and perfect record in 10K's doubles, she is now holding 4 titles of her four final stints. Last year she had two titles in Jakarta and Khonkan, Thailand and yesterday, she made it back to back after last week with Tananta.

Photo of Damayanti is courtesy of www.indotennis.com

Damayanti and Rompies set up all Indonesian semi-final

Seventh seeded Ayu Fani Damayanti and unseeded Jessy Rompies secured their semi-final berth after they were among the quarter-final's winners at the second leg of "PLDT-SMART ITF Women's Circuit" in Manila, Philippines. With total prize money of $ 10,000, Indonesia is guaranteed to have representative in the final since Damayanti and Rompies will play against each other. In the last eight round, Damayanti denied the fighting spirit of French qualifier, Elodie Rogge-Dietrich and posted two weeks in a row of her semi-final appearance. The Balinese girl saw off Rogge-Dietrich 7-5, 6-4 in the quarter-final today. Damayanti's next opponent in the last four round will be her compatriot Rompies. In early stage of her transition from junior circuit to senior pro, Rompies created a surprise victory over fourth seeded Yumi Nakano of Japan. In the other quarter-final match today, Rompies simply outclassed experienced Nakano with comfortable 6-1, 6-2 victory.

Damayanti clinched her back to back semi-final and hoped to emulate what she did last week to go all the way to final. Certainly Damayanti will want to end her title drought since May 2006. In her fourth semi-final appearance of her career tomorrow, Rompies did not want to end as three-time semi-finalist of 10K. It will be the first meeting between Damayanti and younger Rompies in senior pro.

Fifth seeded Lavinia Tananta could not extend her seven winning streak as it was stopped by top seeded Sacha Jones of New Zealand. In another match of last eight round, Tananta did everything to gun down Jones but the Kiwi girl played better and tougher than her opponent and won 6-2, 7-6(5). Now Jones leads 3-0 against Tananta.

In doubles, fourth seeded Rompies/Damayanti toppled top seeded Japanese pair, Tomoko Dokei/Tomoko Taira 7-6(1), 6-0 in the semi-final. The Indonesian duo will face qualifier, Juan Ting-Fei/Zhong Yi (Chinese Taipei/China) in the final tomorrow. Juan/Zhong defeated Sacha Jones/Yoshimi Kawasaki (New Zealand/Japan) 6-4, 6-3 in the last four round.

Photo of Sacha Jones is courtesy of tennisnz.com

Nadia Frederika reached final at Singapore Grade 5

Top seeded Nadia Frederika continued her winning streak and reached the final of "HEAD Singapore ITF Junior Championships" an ITF Grade 5 tourney at Kallang Tennis Centre, in the Lion city. In today's semi-final, Frederika ousted wild card and fourth seeded Este Potgieter from South Africa. In the opening set, Frederika played tough in critical moments and got through the fierce challenge by her opponent Potgieter. Frederika stayed focus in tie break then closed it out 7-6(3). In the second set, Frederika kept the ball in play combined with powerful groundstrokes. It was typical of this Jakarta resident to grunt every time she hit the ball. Finally, Frederika stopped her opponent's persistency in the second set and prevailed with 6-3 victory.

In the quarter-final, Frederika made a relatively easy win over Srilankan Amreetha Muttiah 6-3, 6-3. In the final, a perfect battle will be staged as Frederika will clash with second seeded Singaporean, Stefanie Li-Yun Tan. In the other semi-final match today, Tan had to give it all in a groundstroke contest with third seeded Jang Yi-Bei of Chinese Taipei. Playing at home, she took the advantage of it and rallied back to beat Jang 3-6, 7-5, 6-1.

Frederika is certainly happy with her outcome so far and it is indeed good for regaining her confidence after six losses in early rounds of the previous six tournaments. Her first ever playing was at Mexico Grade 5 in 2007 when she grabbed her maiden title in ITF junior circuit and Frederika's only title up to now.

Tan is a familiar face to Frederika as these two girls had doubles partnership here but crashed out in the first round. Two months older than her doubles partner Frederika, by appearing in the final, she has improved her 2007's performance here in this tourney. Last year Tan was a quarter-finalist. This season, Tan's best result was at Hong Kong Grade 4 when she came out as runner-up. Same as Tan, Frederika also recorded her top outcome this year as runner-up at Guatemala Grade 4. It will be interesting to witness both players in the final tomorrow. Frederika will attempt to bag her second title of her junior career, while Tan will try to take her first title on home soil.

In doubles, in the quarter-final Dina Karina/Kely Restiana Putri bowed out to third seeded pair Neesha Thirumalaichelvam/Feng Yidi (Malaysia/Hong Kong) 1-6, 2-6.

Photo is courtesy of regentville.com

Back to back quarter-finals for Indonesian girls at Manila 10K

Fifth seeded Lavinia Tananta, seventh seeded Ayu Fani Damayanti and Jessy Rompies continued their winning trend in the second round at "PLDT-SMART ITF Women's Circuit" in Manila today. In the second leg tournament with total prize money of US $ 10,000 all these three players repeated their appearance in quarter-final same as last week.

Tananta forced to work hard by her opponent, a South Korean qualifier Yoo Mi in the opening set. Tie break was certainly a long one but in the nick of time, Tananta was slightly better in critical points and closed it out 7-6(10). In the second set, Tananta shifted her game and took in charge of the battle then dispatched Yoo, 6-2. In the quarter-final, Tananta will challenge top seeded Sacha Jones of New Zealand. Jones leads head to head with Tananta, 2-0. In the other second round match, Auckland born Jones booted out Australian Renee Binnie 6-3, 6-0.

Another Indonesian seeded player in the main draw, seventh seeded Damayanti won easily 6-1, 6-1 over Chinese qualifier, Yang Yi. In the last eight round, Damayanti will clash with another qualifier from France, Elodie Rogge-Dietrich. In today's second round, Rogge-Dietrich shocked second seeded Lu Jia-Jing of China with relatively easy victory, 6-3, 6-2.

Indonesian teenager Jessy Rompies also made an easy work in dumping qualifier of Lichtenstein, Marina Novak 6-3, 6-2. In the quarter-final, Rompies will play against fourth seeded Yumi Nakano from Japan. Nakano faced slight difficulty to defeat local qualifier Anna-Christine Patrimonio but eventually she prevailed to win 7-5, 6-3.

In doubles, fourth seeded pair Rompies/Damayanti moved into semi-final after they survive such close quarter-final match against Kao Shao-Yuan/Liu Min (Chinese Taipei/China) with 6-7(7), 6-1, 10-7 victory. In the last four round, Rompies/Damayanti will face top seeded pair from Japan, Tomoko Dokei/Tomoko Taira. Meanwhile second seeded duet Alisa Ogorodova of Uzbekistan and Tananta bowed out to Sacha Jones/Yoshimi Kawasaki 2-6, 4-6 in the quarter-final.

Photo of Yumi Nakano is courtesy of ph.news.yahoo.com

Nadia Frederika through into quarter-final at Singapore Grade 5

The only Indonesian player still alive, Nadia Frederika made it into the last eight round of “Head Singapore ITF Junior Championships” which is taking place at Kallang Tennis Centre, on the city island of uncle Lee. Equipped with her vast experience in junior circuit augmented with her power, top seed Frederika (ITF 286) played really well to end the challenge of Natasha Palha of India (ITF 938) and prevailed to win 6-2, 6-2 in the second round today. For Frederika, this is already her 14th tournaments over the year and in fact she had not played any tourney of Grade 5 ever since she grabbed her maiden title at Mexico Grade 5 in 2007. While for Palha, this Singapore tourney is only her 6th tournaments in 2008 and she recorded her best outcome as quarter-finalist at Srilanka Grade 5 only a month ago.

In the quarter-final, Frederika will face Amritha Muttiah from Srilanka. In the second round Muttiah defeated Huang Hui-I from Chinese Taipei 7-6(4), 6-3. Muttiah is 16 years old and her highest rank was at ITF 757. Along her junior career, this Srilankan clinched her top result as semi-finalist at Srilanka Grade 5 last year.

Local player and second seeded, Stefanie Li-Yun Tan also through into the last eight round. In the second round, Tan bumped off Zainab Ali Sajjad of India 6-3, 6-0. Dina Karina and Kely Restiana Putri who already lost in singles, they will try to do their best in doubles' quarter-final tomorrow. Karina/Putri will play against third seeded pair, Neesha Thirumalaichelvam/Feng Yidi (Malaysia/Hong Kong).

Photo - courtesy of Sarawak Lawn Tennis Association

Up and coming Lertcheewakarn into quarter-final in Kolkata

Thai sensation Noppawan "Nok" Lertcheewakarn booked her place in the quarter-final of "the Gujarat NRE Coke $ 50,000 ITF Women's Challenger 2008" today. The tourney is taking place in Kolkata, India and unseeded Lertcheewakarn made a major upset by defeating top seeded Melanie South of Great Britain in the second round. It was a sweet birthday celebration with such victory for her who just turned 17 years old yesterday (11/18/2008). She stormed back from a set down to eliminate world ranked 117 South in three sets battle 2-6, 6-2, 6-3. The Chiangmai teenager, who finished as runner-up in 2008 Wimbledon Junior and won 2008 US Open Junior doubles' title, will play quarter-final with the second round winner between Elora Dabija of Romania and Leonie Mekel of the Netherlands.

Last week, this winner of Balikpapan 25K in early May, only finished in second round qualifying at Pune 25K. Last month in Taipei 100K, Lertcheewakarn had an impressive result as quarter-finalist. Her biggest win so far was over top 100 player. She gunned down world ranked 97 Melinda Czink of Hungary 6-4, 6-2 in the final qualifying of 2007 Pattaya Open.

Her senior compatriot Suchanun Viratprasert(WTA-263), the other Thai hope in the main draw, could not get through the second round. Viratprasert easily lost 0-6, 2-6 to eighth seeded Chang Kai-Chen of Chinese Taipei.

Photo by Adji Soedibjo at 2008 Pattaya Open