A close call for Tamarine Tanasugarn

The Kingdom's No 1 player said she is taking a three-week break from tennis due to a bizarre headache she developed after her "kiss of death" in Coatzacoalcos where she had to forfeit her second round match against Ukrainian Estefania Craciun.

"I don't know what it is but I am getting pain on the left side of my brain since then. It hurts when I get up in the morning,'' said the world No 149.

"I was given an injection by a tournament's therapist but I didn't get better. I was admitted to a hospital and the doctor there said I would have gone if I was a fraction late. I felt numb all over my body and had cramps around my stomach,'' Tamarine told The Nation.

The sickness hampered her progress and she stumbled in the opening rounds of three of the five tournaments she had entered in the USA and Mexico. Her best result came in a US$25,000 Challenger in Roza Rica where she made the quarter-finals.

"I was unlucky. When I started playing well again, I got sick and had to stay in the hospital. My body was very weak,'' disclosed Tammy, who is very concerned about her condition.

"I'm scared now. I'm trying to see a specialist for a thorough examination of my condition. It might take some time,'' said the former top 20 player and winner of one WTA title.

Tamarine said the illness is not career threatening and she has no plans to hang up her racquet in near future. "I'm still able to practise and compete. But I'm taking time off to have a check-up and heal the symptom. There is no plan to retire and I still love to play for a couple of years more,'' she said.

Tamarine said she will not make the trip to Roland Garros and also abstain from all clay court events this year. It will be her first no show at the French Open in nine years. She will resume her tour at the end of this month by competing in two hard court Challengers in China before heading to her most favourite surface, the grass in Surbiton and Wimbledon where she will have to qualify.

Lerpong Amsa-ngiam

The Nation