Jakarta. Christopher Rungkat, Indonesia’s top-ranked tennis player, finished runner-up at last week’s PGN Men’s Futures, held at the Elite Club Rasuna Epicentrum, Jakarta.

The current world number 581, Christopher lost in the final on Sunday to South Korea’s Duk Hee Lee, 6-4, 6-3, in the last event of the three-tournament Men’s Futures series, organized by the Indonesian Tennis Association (Pelti).

It was Christopher’s second consecutive loss to Lee, having lost to him in the Mayor’s Cup Open quarterfinal last week by the same score.

“I have to admit it was really difficult to play against him. He displayed a solid performance,” Christopher said. He started the Men’s Futures tour by clinching the title at the opening tournament in Tarakan, North Kalimantan.

“Facing such a baseliner and hard-hitter with his flat strokes always gives me a difficult time,” he added.

“The slow court gave me a bit of an advantage. It helped slow down his pace. I focused a lot in the first set’s services and it worked. That gave me confidence.”

Christopher booked four aces and successful services during the match. Both held their services tight in the first set until the eight game.

The South Korean then made a break in the ninth and improved a lot to post a 6-4 win.

“It was difficult for me to escape from his pressure in the next set,” Christopher said.

Two break points helped Lee open up the lead in the second set to 3-0.

Christopher came from behind to level the set at 3-3 before Lee blazed through the rest of the set to take it 6-3.

“I’m excited I can earn two consecutive victories in two weeks here in Indonesia, though the hot weather troubled me a bit,” said Lee, playing in only his fourth Men’s Futures tournament.

Christopher, though, didn’t leave the tournament empty handed. He won the men’s doubles title at the event on Saturday with his Japanese partner, Toshihide Matsui.

The pair beat Danai Udomchoke and Indian Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan, 6-4, 6-2.

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Source: The Jakarta Globe