Navratilova gives Yayuk tennis lesson

Navratilova gives Yayuk tennis lesson

JAKARTA (JP): World top tennis players differ from other
players in the way they avoid making too many unnecessary
mistakes during their games.

This rule of thumb ruled when just retired Martina
Navratilova played the home crowd's darling Yayuk Basuki in an
exhibition match at the Senayan indoor tennis stadium yesterday.

Navratilova, who reigned over women's tennis for a record
seven years in the 1980s, could have stream rolled erratic Yayuk
if she had wanted to. The 38-year-old living legend of tennis,
took the 5-3 lead after breaking her serve and then serving for a
win, before leaving the court with a 6-1, 7-5 victory.

When journalists asked the Czech-born American rejected any
possibility of "match-fixing" or "not playing seriously".

"Of course I want to win the game, but I don't want to win
it 6-0, 6-0. It couldn't be easier as Yayuk served better in the
second set," Navratilova said.

"Matches are not won with good strokes or winners only, but
also the number of unforced errors a player commits," she said in
criticism of Yayuk's performance.

Performance wise, the former world number one did everything
right. She hit every corner of Yayuk's baseline with her sharp
cross court backhand flicks, dazzling passing shots and powerful
forehand strokes.

Yayuk was caught on the wrong foot frequently as Navratilova
displayed masterful volleys.

The Indonesian, who lost to her American opponent in all of
their four previous meetings, looked nervous during the one hour
and five minutes of play. She blasted five aces but double
faulted five times.

In a contrasting style, Navratilova, who wore her favorite
shorts, gave no trace of being under pressure. So relaxed was she
that she sealed the opening set in 25 minutes.

Navratilova, who clearly received the most cheers from the
crowd of 2,000, kept the pace in the second to go 5-3 up. Yayuk's
devastating forehand saved a match point and helped the
Indonesian break Navratilova's serve for the first time.

But Navratilova regained her rhythm to inflict Yayuk's
fourth broken serve, before winning her own game.

"Yayuk is a talented player, but she is limited by her
size," Navratilova said.

Indonesia Open

Earlier yesterday, Romana Tedjakusuma joined the second
round upset at the Indonesia Women's Open as top seed Sabine Hack
won the all-German battle against Maja Zivec-Skulj.

Indonesia's number two Romana lost her composure which
forced her to make too many errors in her 6-7 (2-7), 4-6 defeat
to lucky Ei Iida of Japan. The Japanese entered the main draw in
place of Austrian ninth seed Beate Reinstadler who pulled out of
the tournament due to a stomach upset.

Iida is hoping to humiliate the home crowd yet again as she
plays second seed and defending champion Yayuk in today's third
round.

Third seed Ann Grossman of the U.S. became the most precious
casualty when the 1993 runner-up crashed to Tina Krizan of
Slovakia 6-4, 0-6, 0-6. Casualties continued as German eighth
seed Elena Wagner, winner of two major tournaments here last
year, gave up 4-6, 3-6 to Jana Nejedly of Canada.

World number 19 Hack had a little trouble in the struggle
with Zivec-Skulj 6-4, 6-3 for a third round berth of the
US$161,000 championships.(amd)