Yayuk could pose a threat at Wimbledon

By Bruce Emond

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's Yayuk Basuki carved out another distinction for herself this past week by reaching the semifinals of Eastbourne, the favored women's warm-up tournament for Wimbledon.

Yayuk, despite losing 0-6, 5-7 to American Meredith McGrath, proved that she ranks today as one of the top 10 women players on grass and will be a threat to any player as Wimbledon opens today.

Played at Devonshire Park on the blustery English coast, Eastbourne has served as the site of many memorable matches, particularly in the late 1970s when Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova engaged in brilliant finals.

Yayuk has no reason to hang her head in shame after the loss to McGrath, one of the world's top doubles stars. The American, who returned to competition last year after being sidelined for many months with a hip injury, has one of the hardest serves in the game and also has a stinging forehand.

The 24-year-old Indonesian also recorded a third-round win over Helena Sukova, the brilliant Czech serve-and-volleyer whose game has picked up since she reached the final of the U.S. Open last year.

This was undoubtedly Yayuk's best showing in a major tournament. Although she has won at least one title over the last four years, Yayuk's victories came at US$100,000 tournaments, the lowest level of competition on the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) tour, and all of them were in Asia.

Eastbourne, with prize money totaling $400,000, is one of the top tiers of tournaments.

Wimbledon

Yayuk has a tough draw this year at Wimbledon, where for the past two years she made tennis history by becoming one of only two Asian women to reach the fourth round, or last 16, of the tournament.

Her first round opponent, Natalia Medvedeva of the Ukraine, is currently ranked 24th and last year took Gabriela Sabatini to a close third set before losing at Wimbledon.

At her best, Yayuk should have the measure of the powerful but pudgy Medvedeva, the older sister of men's star Andrei Medvedeva.

If she passes the first-round test, Yayuk should meet Magdalena Maleeva, who she upset in the third round last year.

Medvedeva had to retire injured at 2-5 down to Elna Reinach of South Africa at Eastbourne. Yayuk beat Reinach in the next round.

Magdelena is probably the most talented of the trio of Maleeva sisters and also the most adventurous. While the now-retired Manuela Maleeva-Fragniere and Katerina Maleeva are classic baseliners whose only forays to the net were to shake hands at the end of the match, Magdalena can mix up her game and serve and volley.

Once again, if Yayuk is at the top of her form, she should be able to overcome the Bulgarian's challenge.

From that point, Yayuk should have confidence to meet her next opponents. In the same section of her draw are the mercurial Natalia Zvereva, beleaguered 1991 finalist Zina Garrison-Jackson and talented serve and volleyer Nicole Arendt, who Yayuk defeated in Jakarta earlier this year.

Other players to watch this year at Wimbledon are brilliant Dutch player Miriam Oremans, who could well upset Jana Novotna in the first round, and former U.S. college standout Lisa Raymond.

Yayuk could well be the player to spring some surprises this year. She has the support of husband Suharyadi, who is also her coach, and doubles partner Nana Miyagi, who came through the qualifying for a place in the main Wimbledon draw.

Look for some surprises from Yayuk's racket. It may just be the shot in the arm that women's tennis, currently suffocated by a dearth of interesting players and rendered almost colorless by the Steffi Graf tour, needs to get fans back in the stands.