Yayuk aming to stay in world's top 20
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's best tennis player Yayuk Basuki aims to maintain her presence in the world top 20 this year. She reached the elite in September 1997.
"My form has improved during 1997 and my target this year is to maintain my top-20 position in the world," Yayuk told a media conference yesterday.
However, the 27-year-old player said it would be harder to reach the world's top 15 or top 10 because many young players had come up recently.
"I still have three more years before I turn 30 years old, I will try my best to improve my world ranking, if possible I want to reach the world's top 15," said Yayuk who later yesterday flew to Australia with doubles partner Caroline Vis of the Netherlands.
Yayuk, who has reached world number 15 in the women's doubles with Vis, aims to reach the top 10 this year.
Vis said she could not reach any higher in singles and decided to concentrate more on the doubles.
"Yayuk and I will try to reach the world top 10 and try to beat the world-class doubles teams in the Grand Slams," said Vis, who has just returned from a holiday in Bali with Yayuk.
"In the Sydney International tournament, a warm-up prior to the Australia Open, I think we will be the fifth or the sixth seeds and hope to reach the quarterfinals," Vis said.
Asian Games
Yayuk thanked the Indonesian Tennis Association which gave her the opportunity to prepare for the 13th Asian Games in Bangkok in December without joining the national training program.
"I thank the association for giving me chance to practice by myself and include my coach to evaluate my form," she said.
Yayuk will probably perform in both the singles and doubles in the Asiad. She said there was nothing to worry about because she could play with young players easily.
"In the Federation Cup matches last year, I never had problems playing with Wynne (Prakusya) or Eny (Sulistyowati). The key is communication," said Yayuk, who declined to mention her target in the Asiad.
Yayuk said she would concentrate more on the singles for the Asiad because it would give her a bigger motivation to compete in the doubles.
"The competition in either the singles or doubles in Asia is the same. Our toughest competition in the Asiad will come from Japan, China, South Korea, Chinese Taipei and Thailand," she said.
Yayuk said the association must send more young athletes to compete in international events.
"However I don't know the association's program and I am aware sending athletes to compete abroad will be more difficult due to the country's financial situation," she said.
Antara reported Yayuk had delayed her plan to retire because the young players were not yet ready to perform in international events. Her plan to delay having children is supported by coach and husband Suharyadi.
"I have to delay my plan to have children although I have been married for four years," she said.
Yayuk said she made US$380,000 during 1997 but after expenses and taxes she received $150,000.
She plans to compete in 30 international tournaments, starting with the Australia women's hardcourt in Gold Coast, Australia, early this month and ending with the Asian Games in Bangkok next December. (yan)