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)