Indonesia keeps second tennis singles a secret<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia has picked Yayuk Basuki to play the
\nfirst-string singles in its Fed Cup play-off against Switzerland
\nnext week, but is keeping the second singles place vacant.<\/p>\n
Wimar Witoelar, chairman of the National Selection Tennis
\nBody, said yesterday that the second singles choice is up to
\ncoach Suharyadi.<\/p>\n
"The coach knows the Swiss players best and who among our
\nprodigies match them," Wimar said. "The second singles will be a
\nsurprise for both spectators and the press."<\/p>\n
World number 25 Yayuk, Romana Tedjakusuma, and juniors Wynne
\nPrakusya and Liza Andriyani will again line up the national team
\nfor the Switzerland challenge. Indonesia suffered a 0-5 rout by
\nBelgium at the Fed Cup first-round match here in April.<\/p>\n
"Either Romana, Wynne or Liza can serve as the backup singles
\nplayer. They have all made both physical and technical progress
\nsince they lost to Belgium," Wimar said.<\/p>\n
Wimar made it clear that Yayuk and Romana will team up for the
\ndoubles match. The Asia Championship winners have qualified for
\nthe Atlanta Olympic Games later this month.<\/p>\n
The squad will start training here tomorrow.<\/p>\n
Wynne will take leave from her overseas stint in the Czech
\nRepublic for the Fed Cup match. She took part in some clay court
\ntournaments in Europe.<\/p>\n
Liza, who is now playing in the Wimbledon Junior, warmed up
\nfor next week's match in some junior tournaments in Belgium,
\nGermany and England and several satellite tournaments in the
\nUnited States.<\/p>\n
Romana, who has completed her studies in Louisiana, is the
\nonly player who skipped tournaments. She has been staying in her
\nhometown of Surabaya, East Java, for a physical training program.<\/p>\n
"Romana is an Olympic doubles standard player," Wimar said.<\/p>\n
Crucial<\/p>\n
The Fed Cup match next week is crucial to Indonesia. If it
\nloses to Switzerland, Indonesia will descend to the Asia Pacific
\nqualifying zone next year.<\/p>\n
"Technically, we are better than the Swiss," Wimar said.<\/p>\n
The Swiss team will bring world number 18 Martina Hingis,
\nPatty Schnyder, Emanuela Zardo and Angela Burgis. They are
\nexpected to arrive on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Hingis, 15, is fresh from her Wimbledon campaign, reaching the
\nfourth round where she lost to top seed Steffi Graf.<\/p>\n
This year luck was not with Yayuk, who make a first-round exit
\nfor the first time ever. However, she advanced to the
\nquarterfinals in the doubles with Caroline Vis of the
\nNetherlands.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Tennis Association plans to hold a fans
\ngathering with Hingis and Yayuk.<\/p>\n
The gathering will be limited to 150 persons who will receive
\nfree tickets and lucky draws.<\/p>\n
The association will also sell double tickets worth Rp 500,000
\n(US$210) each, which include a sit-down dinner with the tennis
\nplayers at the Hilton on July 11. (yan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesia-keeps-second-tennis-singles-a-secret-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}