RRI.CO.ID, Sukoharjo - Young Indonesian tennis player Maula Saya made a winning start in the group stage of the DETEC International Junior Championship 2026, held in Sukoharjo, Central Java. The 14-year-old defeated Getsa Zainine in straight sets, 6-2, 6-1, on Monday, May 25.

The tournament, organized by Deddy Prasetyo Tennis Club (DETEC), brings together over 100 young players from 15 countries, making it one of Southeast Asia’s key entry-level international events.

The first in Indonesia to adopt the International Tennis Federation’s (ITF) new competition format, the tournament now features a group-stage system designed to give junior players more matches and experience.

Maula, a student at Al-Azhar Junior High School in Serang, Banten, and seeded fifth in the girls’ singles, welcomed the change. “You can earn points just by winning once in the group stage," she said.

"It’s more exhausting, though; if you reach the finals in both singles and doubles, you might play three matches in a single day. That means you need extra energy, especially with Sukoharjo’s scorching heat,” she added.

She added that she had already studied the format during a tournament in Singapore. “My serve is working well, and my opponents are struggling to return it. My backhand, dropshot, and slice are also more consistent. I’ll keep pushing forward,” Maula noted.

Her next match in Group E will be against wild card entry Joycelin Mangunsong, scheduled for Tuesday, May 26, at Gelora Merdeka Tennis Stadium.

Under the ITF’s new system, each group consists of four players, with eight groups in total for the J30 category. Athletes compete over three days to secure a place in the quarterfinals. Group winners are determined by match victories, head-to-head records, and, if necessary, game and set win percentages.

The ITF reports that the group-stage format allows junior players to reach the ideal target of 50-70 competitive matches per year while keeping costs manageable. Entry fees remain fixed at USD 30, easing the financial burden on parents.

ITF Executive Director for Junior, Veteran, and Beach Tennis, Matt Byford, praised the initiative. “Fair access and more matches will bring junior players closer to their dreams,” he said. (Diffa Sephiawardhani)