Petrova and Vaidisova into 3rd round. The top two seeds, Nadia Petrova of Russia and 16-year-old Nicole Vaidisova of the Czech Republic, lived up to expectations and made it through to the second round of the US$200,000 (Bt8.1 million) PTT Thailand Open at the Rama Gardens Hotel yesterday.

Muay Thai kicks into the big time

[BOXING] Muay Thai is now set to enter the main arena as one of the world’s premier ring sports within the organisation of the World Boxing Council (WBC). The WBC’s recent annual convention in Cadiz, Spain, endorsed a full calendar of championship events for 2006 which will see WBC Muaythai title fights staged in the US, Europe and Asia. WBC President Dr Jose Sulaiman informed delegates that muay Thai was the adopted ring sport for an “excited new generation of martial arts fans”.

Tammy opts for ITF events

[TENNIS] Thai No 1 Tamarine Tanasugarn has opted to stay away from WTA level tournaments and play in ITF events in an attempt to return to the top 100 by the end of the year.