Wynne aims to avoid early Aussie Open exit
Wynne aims to avoid early Aussie Open exit
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Wynne Prakusya will head to Melbourne on Friday for the
Australian Open intending to avoid an early defeat, as she
suffered last year.
Wynne, now ranked 106th in the world, will join Angelique
Widjaja as the only two Indonesians to challenge the world's
contenders at the tournament that is scheduled to start on
Monday.
"I will strive to avoid defeat in the first round. I'm
cautious about the draw. Hopefully, I'll be paired against an
'easy player' and will get through the opening hurdle," Wynne
told reporters before she started a practice session, her last
ahead of her departure for Melbourne, at the Bung Karno tennis
courts here on Thursday.
Wynne, who used to be Indonesia's number one women's player
before falling under the shadow of Angelique, lost to Anastasia
Myskina of Russia, then the world number 16, 6-4, 6-7, 6-1 last
year.
"I can't afford to lose out that early this time around. If
so, I'll end up hitting dead rubber and get no points at all from
the tournament after all I've been doing in preparation," she
said.
After guiding the Indonesian women's team to a gold medal at
the 2002 Asian Games in October, Wynne has yet to show her mettle
against the world.
She fell short of reaching the main stage at the Generali
Ladies in Linz, Austria.
Teaming up with Janet Lee of Taiwan, she was allowed into the
LA Championships, which featured the world's top eight doubles,
only to go out in the first round.
She has been idle from competition for two months and said she
had prepared well for the Australian Open.
"I have stuck to a focused training regime in the last three
weeks, and I'm impatient to start playing after a long break,"
said Wynne, who is vying for a place in the top 50 this year.
She also plans to play in the doubles with Janet Lee.
Meanwhile, Angelique Widjaja will continue her Australian tour
to Melbourne at the back of her elimination in the second round
of the ongoing Canberra Classic.
Angie lost to Emilie Loit of France and while paired with
Clarisa Fernandez, she also had to abandon her doubles hopes at
the hands of Tathiana Garbin/Emilie Loit.