MANILA - Women's singles tennis added to Indonesia's gold collection at the Philippines SEA Games after Aldila Sutjiadi defeated Vietnam's representative Nguyen Savanna Ly with a score of 6-0 and 7-5 in the final, Friday, December 6.
"I am very happy to be able to present a gold medal. This is a first for me at the SEA Games," said Aldila after the match, as quoted by Antara.
According to the 24-year-old athlete, her opponent Savanna Ly performed well, especially in the second set where she forced the score to a 5-5 draw. However, the 2018 Asian Games mixed doubles gold medalist continued to focus and eventually won 7-5.
"The first set I played loose. In the second set I was a little tense and loose. But I was as much as possible to focus and catch up at the end," said Aldila.
Aldila's achievement at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex tennis court, Manila, is her first in the SEA Games. Previously, Aldila's highest record in the SEA Games was to get a bronze medal in women's doubles and women's team four years ago.
The last time Indonesia won a gold medal in the SEA Games from women's singles tennis was in 2011, when Ayu Damayanti beat Thai tennis player Noppawan Lertcheewarkarn.
Aldila has the potential to get her second gold medal at the 2019 SEA Games as she will appear in the mixed doubles final with Christopher Rungkat to face Sanchai Ratiwatana / Tamarine Tanasugarn on Saturday.
Aldila emphasized that he and Christopher had to play aggressively in the final to win the gold medal. This is important because their opponents in the top party are the senior pair from Thailand Sanchai Ratiwatana and Tamarine Tanasugarn.
"We have to play aggressively because we are younger in terms of age and superior in speed," said Aldila.
Thailand's mixed doubles age is far above Aldila (24 years) and Christoper Rungkat (29 years). Sanchai is 37 years old, while Tamarine is already 42 years old. Even so, Aldila realized that Sanchai and Tamarine could not be underestimated. Even though they are quite old, both of them are still actively participating in international tennis tournaments.
Apart from that, Sanchai and Tamarine are very experienced in the SEA Games. Tamarine won her first gold medal at the SEA Games in 1995 or the year Adila was born. Meanwhile, Sanchai won mixed doubles tennis gold at the 2007 SEA Games.
"So it is important for us to compete tactically because the opponent is more experienced," said Aldila.
The Aldila / Christopher pair is one of Indonesia's mainstays to donate the 2019 SEA Games gold medal after they won the gold medal at the 2018 Asian Games.
The last time Indonesia won a gold medal in the SEA Games from mixed doubles tennis was at the 2003 SEA Games or 16 years ago through the pair Suwandi / Wynne Prakusya.
If you succeed in winning gold from mixed doubles, it will be Aldila's second gold in the 2019 SEA Games after gold in the women's singles.
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