Romana's fitness hampers RI Fed Cup preparations

JAKARTA (JP): With just two weeks remaining before its Fed Cup playoff against Switzerland, Indonesia has been given a headache by second singles Romana Tedjakusuma, who has yet to pass a fitness test.

Eddy Katimansah, an official of the Indonesian Tennis Association, told The Jakarta Post yesterday that a coach from the association has been assigned to drill Romana in a rigorous training program at her hometown of Surabaya, East Java.

"We have to treat Romana specially because she is considered the least fit player in the team," Eddy said. "It will take her at least eight weeks to fully recover, but she is expected to push herself to regain her form prior to the match," he said.

Romana returned home early last month after completing this year's studies in Louisiana. She has qualified for the women's doubles at the Atlanta Olympic Games with Yayuk Basuki.

Indonesia entertains a Martina Hingis-led Swiss team at the Senayan rebound-ace tennis stadium on July 13 and 14.

Indonesia will field the same team which suffered a 0-5 whitewashing by Belgium in their first-round match here in April. The squad comprises world number 26 Yayuk, Romana and two junior players, Liza Andriyani and Wynne Prakusya.

Apart from Romana, the Indonesian Fed Cup team members are abroad for regular outings and training. Yayuk and Liza are taking part at the Wimbledon championships, while Wynne is undergoing a training program in the Czech Republic under the tutelage of Ladislav Travnicek.

Yayuk made a first-round exit in Wimbledon, but her hopes alive in the women's doubles with Caroline Vis of the Netherlands. Liza will start her Wimbledon junior campaign on Monday.

Eddy said that the four players are expected to gather early next month for an intensive training period here.

The Swiss team is expected to arrive here on July 9.

In an attempt to promote the Fed Cup match, the organizers are to hold a fans' gathering with world number 18 Hingis on July 11, starting from 14.00. The program is limited to only 100, primarily teenage, tennis lovers.

"The tennis lovers can ask her anything and take photos with her," said Eddy, who is also the national tennis body's official in charge of promotion affairs. Yayuk will also join the face-to- face meeting.

Eddy has also planned to sell an exclusive package for spectators of the Fed Cup match. The Rp 500,000 (US$210) package will include two seats in a court side box, the use of the VIP Lounge at the Senayan rebound ace center court and two seats at the Welcome Dinner at the Jakarta Hilton International Hotel.

The package is limited to 120 people.

Those who are interested in either the package or meeting Hingis, can register themselves at the tennis body's secretariat at the Senayan tennis complex. (yan)