Elbert Sie lifted the trophy at "Alfamart Cup"

Numero uno of Indonesia, Elbert Sie, a Bandung resident added "Bandung success story" at "Alfamart Cup" as part of "Garuda Indonesia Tennis Series". Sie had a sweet revenge in the final after he fought brilliantly to win over second seed Christopher Rungkat 2-6, 7-5, 7-5. Top seed Sie lost to Rungkat in the semi-finals of the fourth serie in Solo sponsored by BTPN. Till this tourney, Sie has been taking part in total of three series as he won the title in the 3rd serie which was his 1st participation in "Garuda Indonesia Tennis Series".

As counter puncher, Sie is known for his persistency and strong fight attitude similar to Aussie Lleyton Hewitt. While Rungkat has complete strokes and he could play with choices of stroke as needed. Sie suffered two bad calls which made 2-2 in the early opening set and since then Sie lost his focus and became emotional as Rungkat bombarded his attacks from the baseline.

The match got so close from point to point and it was obvious causing both players to wear down gradually. Fast ball speed was dominant throughout the match with combination of top spins and flat returns from Sie and Rungkat. Eventually, Sie won the two remaining sets 7-5, 7-5.

This season both players tie at 2-2 in their head to head till the recent final. They looked forward to play against each other in the coming soon of "Garuda Indonesia Masters" on December 9, 2008 along with six other players.

Photo of Sie is courtesy of Dwi Ari Setiyadi from Kompas Images

Widjaja returned and claimed two titles in Jakarta

Former WTA 55 Angelique "Angie" Widjaja made her fans happy as she returned to play singles and grabbed the title at "Alfamart Cup", the fifth serie or final one as part of "Garuda Indonesia Tennis Series". These series of tourney has been organized by Angie and her team of former tennis players under the name of "Sportama".

Ever since the first serie was held, Angie has played only in doubles until the previous serie in Solo, Central Java where she was stopped by the eventual champion, Ayu Fani Damayanti in the singles' semi-final. In the quarter-final, as wild card Angie slammed Beatrice Gumulya 6-2, 7-5. Realizing her prospect to play in "Garuda Indonesia Masters" on December 9, 2008, then she decided to compete again in the final serie here at Sultan Hotel Executive Club, Jakarta. As wild card, Angie saw off teenager Tria Rizki Amalia 6-1, 6-3 in the opening round. Sixth seeded Mia Sacca was ousted by Angie 2-6, 0-6 in the second round.

In the quarter-final Angie was actually having "real final" against up and coming Grace Sari Ysidora. Both players used to be coach by Meiske Wiguna and then Angie for many years till she became pro with two WTA titles was trained by Deddy Tedjamukti. Tedjamukti then began to coach Ysidora and it has been almost a year now. In this match, both players Angie and Ysidora demonstrated their solid groundstrokes with long rallies involved. In the first set, Angie was leading 2-5 but then Ysidora fought back to level at 5 all. Eventually Angie complemented with her vast experience was able to secure the opening set 7-5.

In the second set, Angie took another lead, 5-1 but again Ysidora did not give up instead she fought hard to level it at 5 all. "De javu" as Angie closed it out 7-5. Angie praised her junior that she is talented with strong return serve but she added that Ysidora still lacked of mental toughness in finishing critical points. These two Bandung residents spent 2 hours and 7 minutes on the center court. In my opinion, Angie was still solid in her groundstrokes and for sure her well-known moon balls were quite effective but this time Ysidora pocketed the answers to handle them. Ysidora hit two aces during the match and she said that she was happy despite another defeat. In the first meeting with her senior at National Games' team event, Ysidora lost to Angie 6-2, 3-6, 5-7. She admitted that back then she still had problem in hitting back Angie's notorious moon balls.

In the semi-final, Angie gave shock theraphy and gunned down second seed Jessy Rompies 6-3, 7-6(11). It was quite good match indeed to witness. Rompies scared Angie with four aces but she also had three double faults. The other last four round was battle between top seed Lavinia Tananta and fourth seed Liza Andriyani. Andriyani stole the show with victory over Tananta 4-6, 6-1, 7-5. It was a big shock for Martina Widjaja's camp as Rompies and Tananta bowed out. Big question over the quality of their coaching method and tour management. After all, these young girls lost to their seniors who have lack of training exposure and no more overseas stints.

In the final, it was relatively easy for Angie to disptach Andriyani 6-3, 6-2. With this outcome, Angie is entitled to play at "Garuda Indonesia Masters" with the other seven players including Damayanti, Andriyani, Tananta and Ysidora to name a few.

In doubles, as top seeded Angie/Andriyani took the title as they defeated third seeded Septi Mende/Ysidora 6-1, 6-2. It was an anti-climax performance by Mende/Ysidora after their surprise victory over second seeded pair, Rompies/Tananta 7-6(6), 6-3 in the semi-final. It was such a blow for "Big Mama's camp". Ysidora was truly the star with her explosive return-serve.

Photo of Angie is courtesy of Dwi Ari Setiyadi in Kompas Images

Photo of Andriyani is by Adji Soedibjo published in indotennis.com

Sandy Gumulya forced to bid "sayonara" in the land of Geisha

The current number one of Indonesia Sandy Gumulya as per this week experienced her rank plummetted from WTA 250 to WTA 298. This new world rank is indeed lower than Gumulya's year-end rank at 243 in 2007. This week she participated in her 15th tourney of the season at “2008 Dunlop World Challenge Tennis Tournament”.

This tournament is fully sponsored by Toyota with total prize money of $ 75,000 and is staged at Sky Hall Toyota in Taraflex carpet indoor located in the city of Toyota, Aichi-prefecture, Japan. In the first round Gumulya crashed out immediately after defeated by lefty 18 years old from China, Han Xinyun 2-6, 3-6.

As the main draw was released last Sunday (11/23/2008), I have predicted that Gumulya would not have an easy match and even it was possible to lose in the end. I have met Han and witnessed her match at 2008 WTA Pattaya Open in early February. Despite her loss in the first round of qualifying against her compatriot Xu Yi-Fan in three sets, I acknowledged this Gemini girl as persistent, tough and equipped with quite solid ground strokes.

I was amazed with her track of record as rookie in pro level. In her first ever pro tourney in the month of November 2007, Han was given wild card in the main draw of 75K at Xiamen, China. She only bowed out to Chan Yung-Jan of Chinese Taipei in the quarter-final. This week in Toyota, it is her 13th tourney of the year. In doubles, Han's performance has been good as again in Xiamen she grabbed doubles title with Xu Yi-Fan. While her partnership with Xu reached its peak when they finished as runner-up at China Open Tier II in Beijing last September. It was no surprise at all that former tennis queen of Japan, Kimiko Date-Krumm requested Han to be her doubles partner at Toyota this week.

In the meantime, Gumulya agreed to partner with Kiwi Sacha Jones, a young New Zealander who was recently outclassed by Ayu Fani Damayanti in the final at Manila 10K this past week-end. Duo Gumulya/Jones put a strong fight in the opening round but eventually they were ousted by Yuka Kuroda/Ksenia Lykina (Japan/Russia) 6-3, 3-6, 5-10.

Photo is courtesy of commbanktennis.com

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