Congratulations to Yayuk

Don't ask me why, you know only too well! Martina Hingis for winning the Australian Grand Slam Tennis title 1999. And Yayuk for being pregnant. After all, the latter is also a phenomenon in women international tennis and she is a "true Javanese". She is also rather petite (1.65 meters). Tennis officials here applauded at hearing of her pregnancy, as if she scored another match point, admittedly in extra time and with the patient assistance of her trainer husband. So far I have heard nothing about what her mother-in-law had to say about it, if she said anything at all.

At any rate, I find it remarkable that Yayuk somehow managed to defeat both this year's Australia finalists Martina Hingis and Amelie Mauresmo due to her forceful ground strokes and aces. In the final itself, I think, Mauresmo had to overcome a final-fever while Hingis made better use of her head (strategy) because she is a more seasoned player and luck was definitely on her side.

Instead of playing with both hands to replace a back hand by turning half of one's body, one could play with their left hands instead without losing much sight of the court but with about the same forceful swing-like forehand and without back-aches and less shoulder aches. Please, if I sound silly, remember I never played in Wimbledon. In my experience, however, to suddenly transfer your racket from your right to your left hand and execute the drive, volley or lob or even drop shots usually takes your opponent off guard and out of reach. I only wonder if the umpire would allow such a deceptive exercise.

If you think you need more challenges in life apart from trying to solve chess puzzles and crossword gymnastics, maybe you could give your left hand a more honorable assignment.

I do not mind that you sign your American Express travelers checks with your right hand alone. But try occasionally to play tennis with your left hand to replace your backhand execution. In order that your grip remains strong there are preliminary exercises required for your fingers, left wrist, shoulders and feet.

If you live near the White House, perhaps you could steal an occasion, without the likes of independent prosecutor Kenneth Starr noticing, to watch Bill Clinton play tennis and take notes of his movements (he is left-handed). If not, you should first try to write with your left hand from right to left (to read it you'll need a mirror; something good to fool your grandchildren, but not your wife) or from left to right to fool the tax revenue service), but only after you left Functional Group (Golkar) to join Amien Rais' National Mandate Party (PAN) or Megawati Soekarnoputri's Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI).

Then use your left hand when cutting bread, tomatoes and paper (using scissors, of course) and a human hair (very tricky). After you get more confident you could start playing table tennis with both your hands, which would be very effective in double play. You do not need to change places when your turn comes. Try to serve short and high in badminton or in volley ball.

I trained by throwing and catching a sharp, long knife after it whirled in the air with my left and right hand alternately. And the most challenging is to throw two knives simultaneously in the air and catch them both at the same moment.

If you get hurt or cut yourself because you follow my advice, do not blame me. Blame your ancestors instead.

GANDHI SUKARDI

Jakarta