Yayuk-Sabatini match may be just a dream

Yayuk-Sabatini match may be just a dream

JAKARTA (JP): A planned exhibition match between superstar
Gabriela Sabatini of Argentina and Indonesia's top player Yayuk
Basuki is dangling in the balance.

Yayuk, whose Women Tennis Association ranking has risen to 28,
is scheduled to play Sabatini in exhibition matches on Sept. 14
and 16. The match's organizer, Pelita Jaya, released a press
report yesterday saying that Sabatini will arrive here on Sept.
13.

Yayuk, however, has threatened to leave the national team for
good, Kompas daily reported yesterday, adding that Eddy
Katimansah, the secretary general of the Indonesian Tennis
Association (Pelti), told reporters he would bar Yayuk from
taking part in the exhibition match.

Yayuk made the comment at the ongoing U.S. Open in New York in
which she was ousted in the first round on Tuesday 3-6, 4-6
by South African Mariaan de Swardt.

Eddy said Pelti has decided to not organize or approve any
exhibition match and will instead concentrate on the other
tournaments scheduled for here until the end of this year.

From Sept. 23 to 25, for instance, Indonesia will battle
Switzerland in a Davis Cup match. And in November, Jakarta will
host the men's doubles ATP tournament which will feature the
world's eight best men's players.

Both Yayuk and her coach, Suharyadi, called Pelti's reason
unacceptable. Yayuk also threatened to withdraw from Indonesia's
Asian Games team.

Yayuk, was also not allowed to meet world number one Steffi
Graf of Germany in an exhibition match earlier this year in
Jakarta.

Yayuk said she felt humiliated by Pelti's decision to bar her
from meeting Graf and feared that if her match with Sabatini was
also annulled, Indonesia's tennis image would be tarnished in the
eyes of foreign players.

Sabatini was reported to have told Yayuk that she would
perform in two exhibition matches against her. Previously the two
had been scheduled to meet in three matches in Jakarta, Surabaya
and Bali.

Sabatini defeated Yayuk at a tournament in Canada two weeks
ago. (arf)