The Thai No 2, whose ranking dropped to No 99 this week after reaching a career high of No 97 last week, benefited from a knee injury to the Kazak before cruising through to the second round with a 6-1 6-1 victory.

"It was pretty easy for me because he had an injury and couldn't move,'' said Danai, who will play the winner of the match between Orest Tereshchuk of Ukraine and Russian Mikhail Ledovskikh.

Like compatriot Tamarine Tanasugarn, Danai will not

play on the red clay at the French Open in Paris this year due to their dislike of the unfamiliar surface. He has opted to enter challenger events in South Korea during the French Open before going on to Wimbledon.

"I don't feel comfortable on clay and have no intention of playing on it this year," he said. "My plan is to play on hard courts and go to Wimbledon where I'm automatically accepted for the main draw,'' added Danai.

Meanwhile in Ho Chi Minh City, Thailand's Napaporn Tongsalee crashed out in the first round of the $25,000 Toyota Women's Open at the Lan Anh Country Club yesterday, falling to Uruguay's Estefania Craciun 6-2 1-6 6-1.

But Monthinee Tangphong, her Fed Cup team-mate, advanced to the second round with a 6-3 6-0 win over American Tiffany Eklov on Monday.