Published on November 21, 2005

Thai SEA Games gold medallist Danai Udomchoke enjoyed a good boost prior to his title defence in Manila when he won the US$50,000 (Bt2 million) USTA Challenger of Champaign-Urbana tournament in Illinois on Saturday. The fifth-seeded Thai used precision passing shots to tame American Justin Gimelstob 7-5 6-2 to collect his third challenger title this year after winning in South Korea and Canada.

“I returned well and my passing shots were so good today. I felt good to win here after having lost in the last five early rounds,’’ said Danai, who clocked up his second win over the American after beating him in three tough sets in the South Koran port city of Busan.

Boosted by a large group of Thai fans, Danai rallied back from 0-3 down in the first set to reel off five games in a row to lead the American 5-3. Although he let Gimelstob level at 5-5, the Thai broke and held to land the first set 7-5.

Danai countered Gimelstob’s attacking style of play well in the second set with his impressive passing shots, breaking twice to breeze through the set 6-2.

His victory came at the time when he needed it most with the SEA Games scheduled within a week. The two-time men’s singles champion had been nowhere near his best form, making early exits in his past five tournaments since September’s Thailand Open.

“I hadn’t been confident at all over the past weeks. This week my game is back and it means a lot to me mentally before the SEA Games,’’ said Danai.

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