Yayuk aming to stay in world's top 20<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's best tennis player Yayuk Basuki aims
\nto maintain her presence in the world top 20 this year. She
\nreached the elite in September 1997.<\/p>\n
\"My form has improved during 1997 and my target this year is
\nto maintain my top-20 position in the world,\" Yayuk told a media
\nconference yesterday.<\/p>\n
However, the 27-year-old player said it would be harder to
\nreach the world's top 15 or top 10 because many young players had
\ncome up recently.<\/p>\n
\"I still have three more years before I turn 30 years old, I
\nwill try my best to improve my world ranking, if possible I want
\nto reach the world's top 15,\" said Yayuk who later yesterday flew
\nto Australia with doubles partner Caroline Vis of the
\nNetherlands.<\/p>\n
Yayuk, who has reached world number 15 in the women's doubles
\nwith Vis, aims to reach the top 10 this year.<\/p>\n
Vis said she could not reach any higher in singles and decided
\nto concentrate more on the doubles.<\/p>\n
\"Yayuk and I will try to reach the world top 10 and try to
\nbeat the world-class doubles teams in the Grand Slams,\" said Vis,
\nwho has just returned from a holiday in Bali with Yayuk.<\/p>\n
\"In the Sydney International tournament, a warm-up prior to
\nthe Australia Open, I think we will be the fifth or the sixth
\nseeds and hope to reach the quarterfinals,\" Vis said.<\/p>\n
Asian Games<\/p>\n
Yayuk thanked the Indonesian Tennis Association which gave her
\nthe opportunity to prepare for the 13th Asian Games in Bangkok in
\nDecember without joining the national training program.<\/p>\n
\"I thank the association for giving me chance to practice by
\nmyself and include my coach to evaluate my form,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Yayuk will probably perform in both the singles and doubles in
\nthe Asiad. She said there was nothing to worry about because she
\ncould play with young players easily.<\/p>\n
\"In the Federation Cup matches last year, I never had problems
\nplaying with Wynne (Prakusya) or Eny (Sulistyowati). The key is
\ncommunication,\" said Yayuk, who declined to mention her target in
\nthe Asiad.<\/p>\n
Yayuk said she would concentrate more on the singles for the
\nAsiad because it would give her a bigger motivation to compete in
\nthe doubles.<\/p>\n
\"The competition in either the singles or doubles in Asia is
\nthe same. Our toughest competition in the Asiad will come from
\nJapan, China, South Korea, Chinese Taipei and Thailand,\" she
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Yayuk said the association must send more young athletes to
\ncompete in international events.<\/p>\n
\"However I don't know the association's program and I am aware
\nsending athletes to compete abroad will be more difficult due to
\nthe country's financial situation,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Antara reported Yayuk had delayed her plan to retire because
\nthe young players were not yet ready to perform in international
\nevents. Her plan to delay having children is supported by coach
\nand husband Suharyadi.<\/p>\n
\"I have to delay my plan to have children although I have been
\nmarried for four years,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Yayuk said she made US$380,000 during 1997 but after expenses
\nand taxes she received $150,000.<\/p>\n
She plans to compete in 30 international tournaments, starting
\nwith the Australia women's hardcourt in Gold Coast, Australia,
\nearly this month and ending with the Asian Games in Bangkok next
\nDecember. (yan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/yayuk-aming-to-stay-in-worlds-top-20-1447893297",
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