Davenport set to play in Bali event<\/p>\n
Musthofid, The Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Wismilak International tennis tournament in Bali has
\nattracted the biggest gun in women's tennis, world No. 1 Lindsay
\nDavenport, to play in Bali in September.<\/p>\n
\"We are very happy to announce that Lindsay will play in Bali.
\nWe had talks with her a couple of days ago and she said she was
\nanxious to come,\" tournament director Kevin Livesey said on
\nThursday.<\/p>\n
The big-serving, powerful hitting groundstroker from
\nCalifornia has amassed 47 singles crowns and 35 doubles titles.
\nShe has won all the Grand Slams with the exception of Roland
\nGarros, and lost a marathon Wimbledon final in July to Venus
\nWilliams after holding matchpoint.<\/p>\n
Davenport and world number four and defending champion
\nSvetlana Kuznetsova are the two top 10 players confirmed for the
\nUS$225,000 Bali tournament which will run from Sept. 11 to Sept.
\n18.<\/p>\n
Other high-ranked players are number 11 Patty Schnyder of
\nSwitzerland, whose left-handed game always presents a threat; No.
\n13 Alicia Molik of Australia, who is recovering from an inner ear
\ninfection; and No. 19 Jelena Jankovic of Serbia-Montenegro.<\/p>\n
\"I'm delighted to announce that we have a strong field in the
\ntournament in Bali. The reputation of the tournament as one that
\noffers fierce competition in a relaxing environment is a tribute
\nto all those who make Wismilak International such a popular event
\nwith both players and spectators,\" Livesey said.<\/p>\n
The emerging group of young Asian players is represented by
\nIndia's Sania Mirza, whose impressive performances in U.S. Open
\ntuneups this month will likely bring her ranking from the current
\n59 into the top 50 next week, and No. 61 Akiko Morigami.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's Angelique \"Angie\" Widjaja, who is still recovering
\nfrom knee surgery last November, has been included in the main
\ndraw thanks to a wild card.<\/p>\n
Angie, who won the tournament in 2002 but whose ranking has
\ndropped from the low 70s to 219, will receive one of the two
\nwildcards on offer.<\/p>\n
\"Angie is Indonesia's great player. Unfortunately she has been
\ninjured lately. She is not playing in the U.S. Open but she hopes
\nthat she will be fit to play in Bali,\" Livesey said.<\/p>\n
He added that the other wildcard recipient would be known
\nabout one week before the tournament.<\/p>\n
However, Livesey said other local players would not be able to
\ngain the wildcard facility because their rankings were too low.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's highest-ranked player after Angie is Wynne
\nPrakusya (391), followed by Ayu Fani Damayanti (471), Romana
\nTedjakusuma (487) and Sandy Gumulya (566).<\/p>\n
They will have to play through qualifying for a spot in the
\nmain draw, which Livesey said would be more worthwhile for their
\ncareers because there would also be many players ranked in the
\ntop 100.<\/p>\n
\"They (Indonesian players) will have better chance of winning
\nin qualifying and get points rather they get entry in the main
\ndraw but are beaten straightaway,\" Livesey said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/davenport-set-to-play-in-bali-event-1447893297",
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