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)