Yayuk says it's 50-50 for RI against Puerto Rico

Bruce Emond, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

Former national number one Yayuk Basuki believes the Fed Cup squad has an even chance against Puerto Rico in their World Group II playoffs this weekend.

Yayuk said on Thursday that it would be up to player Wynne Prakusya and nonplaying captain Suzanna Anggarkusuma to steer the team to victory in Salinas, Puerto Rico.

"It depends on how Wynne performs as a leader," said Yayuk, who compiled a 58-28 win-loss record over 16 years in the women's team competition.

"They have to play well and be ready physically and mentally."

Tennis analyst Benny Mailili and coach Deddy Prasetyo said on Wednesday they believed Indonesia, without injured number one Angelique Widjaja, would probably lose because the Puerto Ricans were higher ranked.

First singles Puerto Rican Kristina Brandi is ranked 68, and second singles Vilmarie Castellvi is 168, compared to Wynne's ranking of 388 and Ayu Fani Damayanti's 477.

However, Yayuk said 28-year-old Brandi, who plays a steady baseline game and is undefeated in Fed Cup singles play, "was not too much of a danger" from her observation when she was still on the circuit.

Although the Indonesians will be playing away, Puerto Rico picked a hard court surface, which is preferred by the Indonesian women over slower clay.

Wynne, 24, who reached a career-high WTA ranking of 74 in August 2002, is also vastly more experienced in Fed Cup play than Brandi, with a 58-21 win-loss record compared to the Puerto Rican's 10-2.

With veteran Romana Tedjakusuma, the Indonesian team is the same lineup that lost to Germany 1-4 in Essen in April.

Deddy, who is also Ayu's coach, said the 16 year old should be given the second singles spot over Romana, who turns 30 on July 24, to provide her with international matchplay experience.

Yayuk said Suzanna was the best person to make the decision.

"It's up to her to decide who has the better preparation. Ayu is the future (of Indonesian tennis). Romana in the doubles might be the wise choice."

Puerto Rico had never advanced from the Americas Group 1 zone until it defeated Canada 2-0 in April. Yayuk previously said Indonesia had a golden opportunity to return to the World Group II by beating Puerto Rico, because it could have met tougher teams from China, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Japan, Thailand or Bulgaria in the playoffs.