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)