Tennis association to give Yayuk cash to boost ranking
Tennis association to give Yayuk cash to boost ranking
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Tennis Association is to help the
country's best player, world ranked 24 Yayuk Basuki, break into
the world's top 20.
Association spokesman Eddy Katimansah said yesterday the
association would provide US$10,000 in cash.
"Yayuk deserves to have the association's support. Her
international achievements and her personal support for the
association are unquestionable," he said.
"If Yayuk reaches the world's top 20, she will not only
promote Indonesia but also the association," Eddy said, as quoted
by Media Indonesia.
Eddy said the money had nothing to do with Yayuk's
participation in the Danamon Indonesia Open tennis tournament,
which takes place here from April 21 to April 27.
The Women's Tennis Association prohibits its players from
receiving appearance money in any tournaments.
Eddy said the tournament, which will be a tier four event,
will feature 18 players ranked between 20 and 100.
Yayuk, Wang Shi-Ting of Chinese Taipei, Japan's Naoko
Sawamatsu, Tamarine Tanasugarn of Thailand and defending champion
Linda Wild of the United States are expected to play in the
$100,000 tournament.
Yayuk reached last year's final to challenge Wild but
defaulted due to suffering from a fever.
Wynne
The association is forbidding young talent Wynne Prakusya, who
was the country's heroine in the Fed Cup Asia Oceania Qualifying
Round tie, from playing in the Indonesia Open.
"This is the chairman's (Sarwono Kusumaatmadja) decision and
it is irreversible. It's because of Wynne's physical and
psychological condition," Eddy said.
Eddy said the public could not compare the 16-year-old Wynne
with Switzerland's sweetheart Martina Hingis, who is the youngest
Grand Slam winner in modern tennis.
"If we force Wynne to peak before she is mature, we're afraid
she might not improve properly," he said, as quoted by Antara.
Eddy said Wynne and another Fed Cupper Eny Sulistyowati were
being groomed to play in satellite and challenger tournaments.
Wynne and Eny will play in the Junior Japan Open tournament
from April 14 to April 20 and the Asia Close Junior tournament
from April 21 to April 27, both in Tokyo. (yan)