Asian attitude has to look up

Asian attitude has to look up

Wimbledon, July 2: Yayuk Basuki had actually booked her flight ticket back from London for Friday. ``That had to be changed,'' said the petite Indonesian who made it to the third round of Wimbledon but went down finally to American Jennifer Capriati, ironically, on Saturday, the day after her original booking.

``I came here to enjoy myself, to see my friends before some of them also retire or start playing fewer matches,'' said Basuki, talking to The Indian Express. ``I never really expected to get very far.''

Though Basuki refused to name which one of her colleagues was due to retire, she did say among the friends she has come to see are Spaniards Aranxta Sanchez-Vicario and Conchita Martinez. Basuki, incidentally, has an injury-time ranking of 87 to get into the events. She said she had met some of them a few years ago when they went for a Caribbean holiday after the Chase Championships.

``We were all couples. I had my husband (former Indonesian Davis Cupper Hary Suharyadi, who she dated for two years before marrying in 1994). We had a great time and it's been a while since we had fun like that. Now actually,'' she added, ``It's difficult to have friends like that on the Tour. All these young people are hungry, aggressive and don't have the same easy going spirit we had towards each other off the courts. These new kids on the bloc are good for the Tour, but I can't help feeling a bit sad that we moved out because of these kids.''

Asked how she got back into such tremendous shape, Basuki laughed: ``I had decided when I was pregnant that I would not let myself get all lazy and out of shape. About three months after my baby, I was working out, getting myself together. I did love having my baby and all the responsibilities that go with being a mother but that didn't mean I had to look shapeless,'' said Basuki, whose mother is taking care of the baby in her absence.

The Indonesian is of the firm opinion that Asian women's tennis is on the upswing, singling out Tamarine Tanasugarn of Thailand and a couple of the Japanese players for special attention. ``It's good that so many women are taking to the game. I believe that one day, someone will come into the top 10 and then there will be a change in attitude and fortunes of Asian players.''

The basic problem with Asian tennis players not doing well on the world stage, felt Basuki, was because their ``attitudes were different and their goals were only for country, not for career. They have to believe their life is for tennis. That's the difference. I've seen so many of these Russians, travelling all over and looking to conquer the world. Then I've seen some great players from China who's main aim is to do it for the country in the Olympics. For us, the biggest thing is the Asian Games, there's no thought of getting beyond that mould.''

Basuki said that was the problem with Leander Paes originally. ``I've seen Leander grow up. While playing for India, he could take on and beat any of the biggest names in tennis but he never made into the top 50. Then, he got together with Mahesh (Bhupathi) in the doubles, something happened and their attitude changed. They are now an example to every aspiring Asian player that you can be No 1 in the world.''

Basuki, at her eloquent best, also said culture was a problem in lots of Asian countries where for women to get out on their own and do their thing was still frowned upon. ``But you guys in India are trying to do it,'' she added.

``I have worked a lot with juniors and I see so many young Indian girls travelling over here and there. To be honest, I was a little jealous. India has so many young hopefuls, Indonesia has none. But your juniors have to learn to make the transition to the senior events and that is not easy.''

She said she had managed it helped by a sponsor, but the good thing was that she didn't ``waste'' that chance. ``Once you have the opportunity, grab it with both hands, work harder than you believe you can and hold on.''

Basuki is quite an inspiration to hundreds of young Asians herself. She has beaten players like Lindsay Davenport, Iva Majoli, Mary Pierce, Dominique van Roost, Mary Joe Fernandez, Anke Huber and Gabriela Sabatini in the past, has six WTA Tour titles to her credit (Anna Kournikova has none) and is a member of the million-dollar club in prize money earnings. And she has proved a point, as she says herself. ``It's good for me to prove to people that I'm not just back from pregnancy for the prize money, but to show that good tennis is possible...You can come back fromm motherhood, do well and have lots of fun.''