Cigna Open likely to lack top players
Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The 2003 Cigna Open organizers have confirmed an increase in prize money, but the tennis tournament will likely lack top national players due to clashes with other tournaments.
The tournament will run from Feb. 9 through Feb. 16 at the Hilton tennis hardcourts, Central Jakarta, with prize money being upped from Rp 60 million last year to Rp 80 million (US$9,000) this year.
However, the dates appear either to coincide with or be very close to those of other tournaments in which a number of national top players will be involved.
Suwandi, Febi Widhiyanto, Peter Handoyo and Prima Simpatiaji, who, apart from Prima, have dominated the men's rankings, will be away for Davis Cup duties against Uzbekistan between Feb. 7 and Feb. 9.
With the main draw of the Cigna Open due to start on Feb. 12 they would still have time to rush home, but the prospect is far from assured.
"Suppose they intended to play here; I would try and bring them home on Tuesday (Feb. 11), but I couldn't guarantee it," official of the Indonesian Tennis Association (Pelti) Soebronto Laras said during the announcement of the Cigna Open here on Thursday.
Febi was last year's winner, who defeated Suwandi in the final.
Meanwhile, Eko Kurniawan, Al Imron, Sunu Wahyu Triaji and Sandy Gumulya are expected to be the junior attractions.
In the women's division, Angelique 'Angie' Widjaja and Wynne Prakusya, both Indonesian competitors at the ongoing Australian Open, are set to skip it, making it their second consecutive year of absence.
The two are reported to be continuing their overseas trip to Tokyo before going on to Hyderabad, India, and will still be away when the Cigna Open is under way.
Angie's manager Virginia Rusli said the 18-year-old, who took the trophy in 2001, would go on to Dubai, Qatar, after her Hyderabad appearance.
The likely absence of such highly rated female players will force the organizers to content themselves with a second-class lineup in Wukirasih Sawondari, Liza Andriani and Eny Sulistyowati.
Wukirasih and Liza were the 2000 and 2002 winners respectively.