Jakarta – The Proliga Indonesia Master 2025 concluded December 28th with a dominant performance by 18-year-old Russian athlete arina varaksina, who secured both the women’s singles adn doubles titles. Held in the Daan Mogot area, the tournament followed Indonesia’s successes at the recent Thailand SEA Games and aimed to invigorate the country’s tennis scene [[2]]. Varaksina’s extraordinary showing has also sparked conversations regarding her potential naturalization and future representation of Indonesia on the international stage.
Jakarta –
Russian athlete Arina Varaksina dominated the Proliga Indonesia Master 2025, capturing two titles and sparking discussion about potential naturalization.
The prestigious league-based tournament, hosted by PP Pelti, ran from December 22nd to December 28th, 2025, in the Daan Mogot area of Jakarta.
The event served as a crucial follow-up to Indonesia’s successful showing at the Thailand SEA Games, where the national team secured three gold and six bronze medals. Organizers hoped the tournament would generate excitement and cultivate a new generation of talented Indonesian tennis players as the year drew to a close.
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The 18-year-old Russian athlete wasn’t just a finalist; she claimed victory in both the women’s singles and women’s doubles, partnering with Mischka Sinclaire Goenadi.
Varaksina and Goenadi secured the doubles title after a hard-fought final against Meydiana Laviola and Nadya Dhaneswara. Earlier in the tournament, Varaksina had defeated Goenadi in the individual women’s singles final to claim her first championship.
“I really enjoyed playing in this tournament. I didn’t even know it existed at first, but a friend told me about it, and I’m so grateful she did. I had a great time here – the courts are fast, and I enjoyed everything. I’m thrilled to have won,” Varaksina said after her victory.
Arina Varaksina revealed she has lived in Indonesia for 12 years, picking up the sport at age five after watching her father play. She initially joined a tennis club run by Indonesian legend Yayuk Basuki before briefly returning to Russia, then relocating back to Jakarta.
“If I were to be called up to play for Indonesia, I would definitely consider it. I love living in Jakarta, Indonesia. I love the people, the food – I love everything. So, I would be happy. We’ll see what happens,” Varaksina stated.
“I’m already playing professionally, and my goal is to become number one, so tennis will continue to be my career,” she added.
Varaksina’s expressed willingness to represent Indonesia has been met with enthusiasm from PP Pelti. Secretary-General Andi Fajar Asti indicated the organization is open to discussing the possibility if she were to become a naturalized citizen.
“I think this needs to be discussed. If she is eligible, why not? Tennis is open to anyone who holds Indonesian citizenship. We will certainly discuss this further. If she is willing, it would be good news,” Andi said.
“Our players need strong sparring partners. If they don’t have that, I think our development will stagnate. We need more tournaments like this. Arina is currently ranked 910 in the WTA, so she’s already competing at a high level, and that’s the kind of experience our players need,” he continued.
Varaksina’s presence at the Proliga Indonesia Master 2025 has been a welcome boost. Pelti hopes the tournament will unearth promising Indonesian tennis talent, with plans to hold ten series events throughout 2026 culminating in a master event.
“We will be making improvements to the Proliga Indonesia Master going forward. This event has produced some surprises. We are planning to hold ten series events in 2026, leading to a master event,” Andi explained.
M Gunawan also enjoyed a successful tournament, winning both the men’s singles and doubles titles. Gunawan defeated Michal Ihsan to claim the singles crown.
He then teamed up with Elbert Sie to win the doubles, defeating Tegar Satrio Wibowo and Lucky Chandra Kurniawan.
“I’m happy to win here, especially since it’s been a while since I’ve played in a national tournament. This is a good step from Pelti in creating the Proliga. Hopefully, it will continue because it’s a great opportunity for tennis players to develop,” Gunawan said.
(mcy/aff)
