Former tennis superstar set to take on local star
Former tennis superstar set to take on local star
JAKARTA (JP): Gone is the world number one tag, but superstardom still belongs to Martina Navratilova.
No word came out of the grand dame of women's tennis as security guards kept a throng of journalists out of her way to the awaiting car at Soekarno-Hatta airport yesterday. But her smiling face managed to cool down the grumbling pressmen.
Under the relentless flashing of photographers' cameras, the tennis great walked along the crowded "catwalk" before getting into the car.
"Navratilova has refused to speak upon arrival," declared Eddy Katimansah, an official from the Indonesian Tennis Association (Pelti) who flanked the Czech-born American. Navratilova is scheduled to speak during a press conference today, prior to an exhibition match against Indonesia's top player Yayuk Basuki at the Senayan tennis indoor stadium.
Even when a TV reporter broke the silence, begging Navratilova to say something, the tennis star gave only her smile. "Martina, we love you," the reporter suddenly screamed, hoping that Navratilova would end her tightlipped stance.
"Thank you." Local journalists, who had been hanging around the Soekarno-Hatta airport for an hour, finally heard Navratilova's voice.
This is Navratilova's third trip to Indonesia, for an exhibition. She played her senior Billie Jean King here in 1985. Then in 1990 Navratilova came back to entertain local tennis fans in a match against her retired predecessor Chris Evert.
The 38-year-old Navratilova announced her emotional farewell at the season-ending Virginia Slims championship in New York in November, after losing to Argentinean Gabriela Sabatini.
During 22 years of action, Navratilova scooped 18 Grand Slam singles titles and more than US$20 million in prize money.
Today's exhibition against Yayuk will arguably overshadow the ongoing Indonesia Women's Open championships. It was Navratilova's own decision to include the archipelago in her farewell tour.
"I love to play tennis here," she said when asked about her reasons yesterday.
The American lefthander, who ended her two-decade career as world number eight, has beaten the Indonesian world number 29 rival in all of their four meetings.
Yayuk got off to a comfortable start in her title defense campaign yesterday with a 6-4, 6-3 second round win over Catalina Cristea of Rumania. Second seed Yayuk received a bye in the first round. (amd)