Wynne, Mimma win in Wismilak qualifiers

Wynne, Mimma win in Wismilak qualifiers

SURABAYA (JP): Young Indonesians Wynne Prakusya and Mimma
Chernovita of Indonesia qualified yesterday for the 1997 Wismilak
International women's tennis tournament at the Embong Sawo tennis
complex here.

Wynne beat Sara Ventura of Italy 7-5, 6-4 and Mimma struggled
to overcome Canadian Martina Nejedly 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 in the final
qualifying round.

Both players are being groomed for the 19th SEA Games in
Jakarta next month in the absence of Indonesian number one Yayuk
Basuki, now ranked 20th on Corel Women's Tennis Association (WTA)
tour.

Wynne faces a stiff test in the first round against top seed
Dominique van Roost of Belgium, world ranked 28th. Compatriot
Mimma meets wild card recipient Dally Randriantefy of Madagascar.

Other qualifiers are Maureen Drake of Canada, who beat Madoka
Kuki of Japan 6-1, 6-3, and Sandri Obata of Japan, who defeated
Chin-Bee Khoo of Malaysia 6-2, 7-5.

Wynne, 17, had to muster all her energy to beat Ventura in the
116-minute match. Both players scrambled to win points in hard-
fought games which often went to deuce in both sets.

The Indonesian's soft serve is her weakness but she returned
well to keep apace in the match. Wynne used a combination of
slice and topspin to unhinge the Italian.

Sweltering heat took their toll on Nejedly, younger sister of
WTA player Jana Nejedly. Mimma recouped after losing the first
set and turned up the pressure in running her opponent ragged in
the third set.

A weakened Nejedly committed numerous unforced errors to hand
Mimma the match.

The tournament offers US$35,400 to the winner, $16,700 to the
runner-up and $8,550 for each semifinalist.

Defending champion Wang Shi-ting of Chinese Taipei is expected
to be challenged by Australian Open quarterfinalist van Roost,
Henrietta Nagyova of Slovakia and fast-rising Tamarine Tanasugarn
of Thailand. (nur/yan)