CIGNA Open deprived of top women's stars

CIGNA Open deprived of top women's stars

Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The CIGNA Open tennis championships in Jakarta are back but will be deprived of the country's top women stars, as Angelique Widjaja and Wynne Prakusya are heading elsewhere.

The tournament will feature 147 players and will run from Feb. 10 to Feb. 17 on the hard courts of the Jakarta Hilton Executive Club in South Jakarta.

A total of Rp 60 million (US$6,000) in cash prizes will be on offer.

But two stars who faced each other in a recent high-profile tennis exhibition are missing out as they have opted to take part in overseas tournaments -- Angelique Widjaja (ranked 147th in the world) to Qatar and Wynne Prakusya (94th) to the United States.

"It's deplorable that they can't join the competition. We wish they would but it seems that they have their own priority," John Tehusijarana, from the organizing committee, told The Jakarta Post.

"Despite the no-shows in the women's category, the top ten men's players in the Indonesian national rankings will all turn up," he said.

Febi Widhiyanto and Angelique are the 2001 champions in their respective men's and women's category.

Febi is currently on the New Zealand tour along with other national team members Suwandi, Peter Handoyo and Hendri Susilo Pramono.

They will play New Zealand in a Davis Cup qualifier.

"All four will enter the CIGNA tournament on their return from their overseas duty," John said.

Angelique, who defeated her senior Wynne at Wednesday's exhibition, is going to take part in the Qatar Finaelf Open and Dubai Women's Open starting this month. She departed for the gulf on Thursday night.

The absence of Angelique and Wynne will prompt the CIGNA tournament to promote 1997 SEA Games gold medalist Wukirasih Sawondari, Liza Andriyani and Eny Sulistiowati in the women's division.