Yayuk Basuki walks easy path at Indonesia Open<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Yayuk Basuki faces an easy walk to her fourth
\nsuccessive title at the Indonesia Women's Open tennis
\nchampionships, which starts today at the Senayan tennis center.<\/p>\n
Playing in the bottom half, the world number 29 and second
\nseed Yayuk evades early encounters with either Argentinean
\nFlorencia Labat, her runner-up last year, or Elena Wagner of
\nGermany, her second round conqueror at the Wismilak Open in
\nSurabaya, East Java, in September.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian number one will find her toughest opposition in
\nthe form of Ann Grossman of the United States, before entering
\nthe most awaited final meeting with the German top seed Sabine
\nHack.<\/p>\n
All top eight seeds were granted byes and will play their
\nsecond round matches tomorrow.<\/p>\n
Yayuk will set out on her title defense campaign against the
\nwinner of the Catalina Cristea-Laxmi Poruri match. If she wins,
\nthe home favorite will likely have little trouble in disposing of
\nteammate Romana Tedjakusuma in the third round.<\/p>\n
Up-and-down Romana, who was dumped out of the second round
\nmatch last year, takes on Kim de Weille in today's opening round.<\/p>\n
Hack will be the only player ranked among the world's top 20
\nto join the US$161,000 tournament. Other top players Natalia
\nZvereva of Belarus and American Mary-Joe Fernandez have all opted
\nto miss the one-week event, which serves as a warm-up tournament
\nfor the Australia Open in February.<\/p>\n
The Women's Tennis Association requires at least three players
\nrated in the 20s in the world rankings, or a player ranked among
\nthe world's top 10, in the 64 player competition vying for the
\nMadame Soeharto trophy.<\/p>\n
Indonesian wild card, Natalia Soetrisno, will serve as a first
\nround hurdle for South Korean 14th seed Park Sung-hee today.
\nNatalia lost to the same opponent at the Indonesia Women's
\nChallenger last September.<\/p>\n
Another wild-card entrant, Enny Sulistyowati, looks likely to
\nface a better fate than Natalia. Making her debut, the winner of
\nboth the senior and junior Indonesia Masters championships, Enny,
\nplays world number 186 Julie Steven.<\/p>\n
The 64-strong field was filled yesterday as eight players
\nsecured berths to the main draw after winning their qualifying
\nround matches. None of the six Indonesians who played the
\nqualifiers booked the remaining places. (amd)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/yayuk-basuki-walks-easy-path-at-indonesia-open-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}