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)