Published on December 31, 2005
Shaven-headed Paradorn Srichaphan and compatriot Danai Udomchoke headed for India yesterday to launch their 2006 campaign at the Chennai Open. Paradorn, who still hasn’t grown much hair since his ordination last month, is due to kick off the action in the Indian tournament where he is a former champion and three time runner-up. “I evaluate myself as being at a better level than I was at this time last year. I have done a lot of training and am injury free. The shoulder injury that bothered me much of the time in 2005 is gone,” said Paradorn who finished the season at No 41 on the ATP rankings. After taking the title in 2003 with an easy win over Karol Kucera of Slovakia, Paradorn lost gruelling finals to two-time defending champion Carlos Moya of Spain in 2004 and 2005. He is determined to reclaim the crown when the event starts next week.
“I want to at least make it to the semis, but I would love to win it again. I have had good results in this tournament in that I’ve reached the finals in the past four years. Something good might happen this time,” added Paradorn who is on a hunt for his first trophy after his last title in Nottingham in June last year.
Paradorn, after spending a week as a monk at the temple near his home, trained in Pattaya for two weeks with fellow ATP buddies Russian Nikolay Davydenko, the world No 5, Russian Mikhail Youzhny, Nicolas Kiefer of Germany and Danai. He said he had made the most of his time in the monkhood, which he believes can benefit his tennis in terms of mental conditioning. “I feel more mature after leaving the temple. I got the chance to practice meditation and that helps a lot in concentration on the court,” added Paradorn whose aim for 2006 is to return to the top 20. His career high is 9th in the world. While Paradorn will be among the top three seeds in the draw, Danai, No 121, will have to play in the qualifying round. “Unlike previous years, I begin this year with an ATP event rather than a challenger. I want to take it one match at a time and hope to make it to the main draw,” said Danai who is determined to crack the top 100 this year. The Chennai Open attracts a number of stars including world No 9 Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia, Radek Stephanek of the Czech Republic, Moya and South Korean No 1 Lee Hyung-taik. HINGIS FOCUSES ON POWER - Former world No 1 Martina Hingis has conceded she has no hope of surviving on the women’s circuit unless she improves her serve and increases her all-round power. Swiss Hingis, 25, who retired three years ago with foot and ankle injuries, announced her comeback to tennis this month. “If I want to play the tennis I played three years ago I would not survive,” Hingis told reporters on Queensland’s Gold Coast yesterday. “I know that. You have to grow with the game and you have to get better physically and tennis wise. “I’ve been trying to work on my whole game, baseline and serve. You have to have a serve to be able to survive today and we’ll see if I can bring it on, like the saying says.” Hingis will be making her grand slam return at next month’s Australian Open after playing warm-up tournaments on the Gold Coast next week and in Sydney the week after. Lerpong Amsa-ngiam The Nation
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