Published on October 19, 2005
[TENNIS] Fresh from finishing runner-up in the Stockholm Open, Thai No 1 Paradorn Srichaphan returned home yesterday to rest before playing in his final two tournaments of the season in Europe. After climbing up the rankings to No 43 on Monday thanks to his brilliant performance last week in Sweden, Paradorn has some free time as he failed to qualify for the Madrid Masters Series as his ranking last week was below the top 50.
Only the top 48 players are automatically accepted into the Masters main draw.
His next tournament will be the ?850,250 (Bt40.6 million) Davidoff Swiss Indoor event in Basel, Switzerland, from October 24-30 and the ?1.87 million Paris Masters Series from October 31 to November 5. “I didn’t set any particular goals for my last two tournaments. What I expect from myself is to do the best that I can and the results will speak for themselves,’’ said Paradorn, who lost to American James Blake in the final of the Stockholm Open which he won in 2002. Paradorn also set November 25 as the day for his ordination as a monk, a religious ceremony which almost every Thai man has to perform as a form of gratitude to their parents. He plans to become a monk for seven days at the Thung Setthi temple, which is not far from his home. “It’s always been my intention to be ordained, but I had found it hard to put it in my schedule because I have to be on the tour most of the year. As I son, I’m supposed to do something for my parents to show my gratefulness,” he said. “My two brothers have already been ordained and now it’s my turn. I think I can give more details after I come back from Paris,’’ said the Thai No 1. Meanwhile, the national tennis team started preparing for next month’s SEA Games at the Rama Gardens Hotel courts yesterday. The men’s team comprises Danai Udomchoke, Weerapat Doak-maiklee, Sonchat and Sanchai Ratiwatana. The women’s side is Suchanan Viratprasert, Napaporn Tongsalee, Monthinee Tangphong and Thassha Vittayaviroj. Former national team player Wittaya Samrej is the coach. ------------------------------ Ginepri jolts Grosjean US Open semi-finalist Robby Ginepri booked into the third-round at the Madrid Masters yesterday, defeating Sebastien Grosjean to leave France without a player in contention by day two. The 4-6 6-4 6-4 scoreline for Ginepri, seeded 16th, came as he started his week indoors after a bye. French hopes died completely on Day 2 as Belgian Christophe Rochus dispatched Gael Monfils 6-4 6-4 after the teenager won their only other match at a Challenger earlier this year. Paul-Hanri Mathieu lost on Monday and Richard Gasquet has ended his season early to treat an elbow injury. Ginepri turned around what had been a three-match win streak for Grosjean with his victory, with the pair last meeting at the 2004 round of 16 at Wimbledon. Since the summer’s first-round loss on grass, the American from Georgia has been lifting his ranking to 21st, reaching at least the quarter-finals of his last four tournaments. Lerpong Amsa-ngiam The Nation
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