Basuki misses out on rewards by losing

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's top female tennis player Yayuk Basuki missed out on becoming the second Asian woman to reach the semifinals at Wimbledon when she lost to Jana Novotna 6-3 6-3 in the quarterfinals yesterday.

Yayuk created history Tuesday by becoming the first Indonesian player to reach the quarterfinals at the prestigious event when she defeated Patricia Hy-Boulais of Canada 6-0 7-6 (7-2) in the fourth round on Tuesday.

Sarwono Kusumaatmadja, chairman of the Indonesian Tennis Association, and Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono praised Yayuk's ability to reach the quarterfinals.

"I am proud that Yayuk has elevated Indonesia's name at Wimbledon," Moerdiono said here Tuesday after watching Yayuk play on Star TV.

Indonesian businessman and tennis pundit Probosutedjo also welcomed Yayuk's fourth round victory and had promised to award Yayuk a car if she made the semifinals.

Probosutedjo made the statement through staffer AJF Makiwawu in London on Tuesday and said that the car would be an Opel Blazer.

"Pak Probo said outright that he would give Yayuk an Opel Blazer should she enter the semifinals at Wimbledon," Makiwawu said.

Had Yayuk reached the final, she would have probably ended up being among the top 20 world women tennis players.

Tennis pundit Benny Mailili, who watched Yayuk play in London, predicted Yayuk would most likely be defeated by Jana Novotna of the Czech Republic in the quarterfinals.

Benny hinted that Yayuk's chances of reaching the semifinals would have been better had she faced Mary Joe Fernandez of the USA.

Yayuk is currently ranked 26th in the world.

Novotna passed the fourth round on Tuesday when she beat Fernandez 5-7 6-4 7-5.

Novotna also won over Yayuk at the Eastbourne tournament two weeks ago.

Yayuk beat Fernandez in the Acura Classic two years ago. Fernandez, however, defeated Yayuk at the Lipton tournament in Key Biscane, Florida in 1996. (lnt)