Yayuk determined to hit world top 20 after Wimbledon

Yayuk determined to hit world top 20 after Wimbledon

JAKARTA (JP): Yayuk Basuki said yesterday she would keep
playing international tennis, despite saying two years ago she
would retire.

"After I announced my retirement, I wondered why I was playing
better and my world ranking was getting higher. It surprised me,"
she said yesterday at Hotel Atlet Century Park in Senayan.

"I have an ambition to get into the top 20 in July, probably
after Wimbledon. I am still playing tennis," she added.

Yayuk, ranked 24, upset Mary Pierce of France in the second
round of the Sydney International in January and defeated big-
serving Brenda Schultz-McCarthy of the Netherlands in the Paris
Open's third round a week later.

These victories raised Yayuk to her second-highest ranking.
Her best ranking of 21 came in early 1995.

Yayuk, who married her coach and manager Suharyadi in 1994,
said she would retire in 1995 to have children.

"I was tired of playing tennis but I thought that everybody
else got tired of their jobs. Besides, I want to do more than I
have got to now because I'm sure that I can do it," she said.

"I don't want to be known only in Asia but also around the
world," she added.

Yayuk, who turned professional in October 1990, urged the
Indonesian Tennis Association to stage a two-tier international
tournament to boost and promote national tennis.

"So far, people only know that Indonesia is good at badminton.
We have to prove that Indonesia also has good international
tennis players by staging a major event," she said.

The 25-year-old said the association should stage more
satellite or challenger tournaments to give experience and
opportunities to junior players.

SEA Games

Wearing blue jeans and T-shirt, Yayuk said she did not know
whether to train for the 19th SEA Games here in October or
compete in international tournaments to boost her ranking.

"I haven't received an invitation from the National Sports
Council to join the national squad for the Games. But I am also
yet to decide," she said.

Yayuk, who leaves for New Zealand today, will join three other
national players for the Federation Cup in Wellington from March
11 to March 15.

The juniors Wynne Prakusya, Mimma Chernovita and Enny
Sulistyowati are competing in the Ansett Women's International
Tennis Event in Blenheim which will end Saturday.

Yayuk said, "If I reach my target in July and the council asks
me to join the Games' squad, I will have to explain my personal
program. It's not that I'm not a nationalist but I want to
popularize Indonesia in tennis by being the country's first top
20 player."

"The association must take the risk of fielding juniors at the
Games. I know they have slim chances against Thailand, especially
if Tammarine Tanasugard plays," she said.

Tammarine is ranked 35 in the world.

Andrian

Local Davis Cup player Andrian Raturandang has been suspended
from the national squad for "undisciplined" action in training.

The chairman of the National Team Board, Wimar Witoelar, said
the board had tried to persuade Andrian to change his behavior
but the 21-year-old went on regardless.

A report said Andrian was often 15 to 20 minutes late for
training, and often received guests late at night in his room at
Hotel Atlet Century Park.

Andrian, who suffered dehydration during a Davis Cup match
against the Philippines last month, has been told to rest for six
weeks.

The Games training executive director Djoko Pramono said
Tuesday he had not heard of the suspension but would check with
the association. (yan)