Davenport set to play in Bali event
Davenport set to play in Bali event
Musthofid, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta
The Wismilak International tennis tournament in Bali has
attracted the biggest gun in women's tennis, world No. 1 Lindsay
Davenport, to play in Bali in September.
"We are very happy to announce that Lindsay will play in Bali.
We had talks with her a couple of days ago and she said she was
anxious to come," tournament director Kevin Livesey said on
Thursday.
The big-serving, powerful hitting groundstroker from
California has amassed 47 singles crowns and 35 doubles titles.
She has won all the Grand Slams with the exception of Roland
Garros, and lost a marathon Wimbledon final in July to Venus
Williams after holding matchpoint.
Davenport and world number four and defending champion
Svetlana Kuznetsova are the two top 10 players confirmed for the
US$225,000 Bali tournament which will run from Sept. 11 to Sept.
18.
Other high-ranked players are number 11 Patty Schnyder of
Switzerland, whose left-handed game always presents a threat; No.
13 Alicia Molik of Australia, who is recovering from an inner ear
infection; and No. 19 Jelena Jankovic of Serbia-Montenegro.
"I'm delighted to announce that we have a strong field in the
tournament in Bali. The reputation of the tournament as one that
offers fierce competition in a relaxing environment is a tribute
to all those who make Wismilak International such a popular event
with both players and spectators," Livesey said.
The emerging group of young Asian players is represented by
India's Sania Mirza, whose impressive performances in U.S. Open
tuneups this month will likely bring her ranking from the current
59 into the top 50 next week, and No. 61 Akiko Morigami.
Indonesia's Angelique "Angie" Widjaja, who is still recovering
from knee surgery last November, has been included in the main
draw thanks to a wild card.
Angie, who won the tournament in 2002 but whose ranking has
dropped from the low 70s to 219, will receive one of the two
wildcards on offer.
"Angie is Indonesia's great player. Unfortunately she has been
injured lately. She is not playing in the U.S. Open but she hopes
that she will be fit to play in Bali," Livesey said.
He added that the other wildcard recipient would be known
about one week before the tournament.
However, Livesey said other local players would not be able to
gain the wildcard facility because their rankings were too low.
Indonesia's highest-ranked player after Angie is Wynne
Prakusya (391), followed by Ayu Fani Damayanti (471), Romana
Tedjakusuma (487) and Sandy Gumulya (566).
They will have to play through qualifying for a spot in the
main draw, which Livesey said would be more worthwhile for their
careers because there would also be many players ranked in the
top 100.
"They (Indonesian players) will have better chance of winning
in qualifying and get points rather they get entry in the main
draw but are beaten straightaway," Livesey said.