Ami Afriatni

Elbert Sie returning a ball to David Agung Susanto during their match on Wednesday. Elbert won 6-4, 6-4. (Photo: Afriadi Hikmal, JG)

Ayu Plays Through Pain at Garuda Tennis Masters

The pain in Ayu Fani Damayanti’s right ankle has yet to subside, but that did not stop her from winning her first match match at the season-ending Garuda Indonesia Tennis Masters on Wednesday.

Top-seeded Ayu, 20, overcame Laili Rahmawati 6-0, 6-4 despite playing with her ankle tamped and a grimace on her face.

“I still had an easy win in the first set, but the second set was harder as I started to feel the pain again,” Ayu said.

Ayu suffered the injury while playing with women’s doubles partner Lavinia Tananta in the final of last week’s X-Pro Open in Jakarta. The duo won the championship, but Ayu subsequently pulled out of the women’s singles final, in which she was scheduled to face Lavinia.

“I’ve been in therapy for two days. I have to play carefully and not make sudden stops when moving to minimize stress on my ankle,” said Ayu, who was runner-up in the Masters tournament last year.

“But I think I can deal with the pain, perhaps, as long as I don’t have to play three sets.”

In the other Cendrawasih Group match, Romana Tedjakusuma swept past Jessy Rompies 6-2, 6-2.

Ayu faces Jessy today, with Romana taking on Laili. The top two players in each group advance to the semifinals.

Defending Masters champion and No. 2 seed Lavinia opened Merak Group play with an easy 6-1, 6-0 defeat of Rani Fitria Wardhani. Cynthia Melita sprung the surprise of the day when she defeated fourth-seeded Beatrice Gumulya 7-5, 6-3.

Men’s singles top seed Christopher Rungkat, who won the singles and doubles titles at the X-Pro Open, also had an easy first day with a 6-2, 6-1 victory against Ryan Tanujoyo in the Garuda Group. No. 3 seed Elbert Sie beat David Agung Susanto 6-4, 6-4 in the other group match.

Second-seeded Sunu Wahyu Trijati had a struggle on his hands in the Rajawali Group, needing three sets to overcome Ketut Nesa Arta 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (2).

Prima Simpatiaji won the other group match after Andrian Raturandang retired with a right knee injury. Prima led 6-7 (3), 6-1, 4-0 when Andrian withdrew.

“I suffered this injury during physical training in the national camp several weeks ago,” Andrian, 34, said.

That injury cost Andrian his place in the Indonesian national team for December’s Southeast Asian Games. The Indonesian Tennis Federation named Surya Wijaya in his place.

Doubles play at the Rp 500 million tournament finished after press time.

Your View

See Result