Published on November 14, 2005

Women’s No 1 Tamarine Tanasugarn won her first trophy of the season yesterday after defeating Japan’s Miho Saeki in two easy sets in the final of a US$50,000 (Bt2 million) Chinese Women’s Circuit event in Shenzen.

The third-seeded Thai made up for her disappointing loss in a quarter-final last week in South Korea with a straight sets 6-2 6-4 win over the Japanese veteran to collect her second title at the $50,000 level after her first in Gifu, Japan, five years ago.

Ranked No 155 in the world, Tamarine is on course to return to the top 100. With her victory on Sunday she will climb into the top 130 when the new rankings are updated today.

Next week Tamarine will play in a $25,000 tournament in Nuriootpa, Australia, where she will be joined by Thai Fed Cup team-mates Suchanan Viratprasert and Montinee Tangphong.

THE NATION

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