JABAR EKSPRES – Indonesia’s Justin Barki secured a ticket to the men’s singles final in the first week of the Harum Energy Men’s World Tennis Tour in Jakarta, Saturday (6/17).
Competing at The Sultan Hotel & Residence Jakarta tennis court, Justin successfully eliminated Ukrainian tennis player Yurii Dzhavakian in the semifinal match.
The wild card recipient silenced the opponent who qualified from the qualifying round through a rubber set match 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.
“It’s really a mental battle and very happy to get through this match with a win,” Justin said in a written statement received in Jakarta.
In the first set, Justin had missed the ball on the second serve. Even so, in the previous game, the Princeton University graduate had tried hard to steal points from the opponent’s ball but failed.
Again, he was caught up in a small score and had to let the fifth game fall into the opponent’s lap. The first set ended with 3-6.
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Losing the opening set did not discourage Justin. Indonesia’s second best single was more careful in keeping his own serve.
Careful in his steps, the 1043 ATP ranking broke the opponent’s serve in the last game and forced the decisive set to win a place in the final.
The last-four match initially looked anticlimactic for Justin.
In the middle of the final set, the owner of eight ITF doubles titles fell behind 2-4. His second serve was again broken.
However, thanks to the encouragement of his supporters, he managed to score a break for his fourth game with a dropshot near the net.
“When I was behind, I just wanted to return the ball to extend the match. After the break, then the momentum turned,” said Justin.
