Romana improves in Fed Cup run-up

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian second best player Romana Tedjakusuma claimed yesterday to have made improvement on her form as she geared up for the clash with Switzerland at a Federation Cup match this weekend.

"My strokes are more consistent now," Romana said after a workout with teammate Wynne Prakusya at the Senayan tennis complex yesterday. "I've also grown slimmer after hard training recently."

Romana underwent a special training program for six weeks in her hometown of Surabaya, East Java, before moving to Jakarta over the weekend.

World-ranked 28th Yayuk Basuki, Romana and juniors Liza Andriyani and Wynne will form the team for the Fed Cup second- round playoff. Romana, who made no outing during the whole of last year, played the second-string singles in Indonesia's 0-5 drubbing by Belgium in their first-round tie last April.

Yayuk, fresh from her Wimbledon campaign, failed to turn up for the practice. She had to look after her ailing mother, who is now undergoing medical treatment at the Gatot Subroto hospital. Yayuk is expected to join the team today.

Liza, suffering from jet-lag after arriving from Wimbledon yesterday, was the other absentee from the opening work-out.

Non-playing captain Suharyadi said he was satisfied with Romana's performance yesterday. "Romana shows her consistent strokes and good physical fitness," said Suharyadi, who is also Yayuk's husband.

Prospects

Suharyadi refused to disclose Romana's prospects of playing the second singles, but said that she would focus on playing doubles with Yayuk. The pair, winners of the Asia Championships last November, will play at the Atlanta Olympic Games.

Romana took the second singles place easily. "Playing singles or doubles doesn't matter to me. I won't be disappointed if the captain denies me the singles match," said Romana.

Suharyadi admitted that Indonesia is the underdog, despite the home-soil advantage. "We hope to steal two points from the second singles," he said.

Suharyadi predicted that the Swiss will count heavily on world number 18 Martina Hingis and likely on Patty Schnyder. Hingis, 15, became the youngest Wimbledon champion when she won the women's doubles crown with Helena Sukova of the Czech Republic. Hingis also cruised to the fourth round in the singles, before going down to eventual champion Steffi Graf.

The Swiss are expected to arrive here this afternoon. (yan)