Yayuk/Sema into second round of Pattaya Open

JAKARTA: Indonesia's Yayuk Basuki and her Japanese partner Yurika Sema romped through their first round test on Monday in the PTT Pattaya Open, beating Russians Elena Chalova and Ekaterina Ivanova 7-5, 6-3.

On paper, it should have been a tighter contest, with Chalova highest ranking at 154, Ivanova 156, Yayuk 159 and Sema much lower at 190.

"The Russians just hit from the back, with solid groundstrokes, but cannot really volley," Yayuk, 39, said after the match.

"It was a good start, but I need to adjust with my partner because she is not a doubles player, but she is a fighter," Yayuk said by short messages. Sema was a last-minute replacement for Yayuk's usual partner, Kimiko Date-Krumm, who injured her angle in practice.

The second round promises to be a tougher outing, with a showdown against either 4th seeds Carly Gullickson /Nicole Kriz (US/Australia) or local favorite Tamarine Tanasugarn/Marina Erakovic of New Zealand. - JP