Thailand returns to Davis Cup elite group
Thailand won its way into the Davis Cup World Group Play-offs for the fourth time after twins Sonchat and Sanchai Ratiwatana comfortably won the doubles over Japan in the regional zone qualifying second-round tie yesterday.
The Thai team, which included Paradorn Srichaphan and Danai Udomchoke, was jubilant, as were about 700 local fans after the Ratiwatanas outplayed Japan's Satoshi Iwabuchi and Toshihide Matsui 6-4 6-3 4-6 6-2 at the Rama Gardens Hotel. About 100 Japanese supporters braved the merciless heat to try and boost their countrymen over the two days of tennis. With Paradorn and Danai already securing two points from Friday's matches, Thailand beat Japan 3-0 and did not have to play today's two reverse singles matches. After achieving a hat-trick of slots in the World Group Play-offs between 2002 and 2004, Thailand will again take its place in the elite status group in September. The country will be drawn to meet one of the World Group first-round losers consisting of Switzerland, Spain, Germany, Austria, Sweden, the Netherlands, Romania and the Slovak Republic. Thailand and Japan have met seven times, with the record at 5-2 in Japan's favour. Thailand's only other win over the Japanese was in 2002 in Nonthaburi.
Lerpong Amsa-ngiam The Nation
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