The 16-year-old from Nakhon Ratchasima, who won her maiden trophy in Nigeria in February, avenged her 4-6 4-6 loss to the Indonesian last week with a 6-3 6-3 victory.

"The last time we played I served double faults on crucial points.

"So this time I kept cool and tried to move her off the court and hit the balls onto the open court," said Nungnadda.

Nungnudda has worked hard to shed weight and improve her fitness with help from former athletic star Ravadee Wattanasin.

"She helps me work on my fitness. I run a lot and never count how much weight I have lost," said the teenager who admitted she eats even more than before but has no idea where her weight has gone.

Nungnadda takes on Uzbekistan's Vlada Ekshibarova, who eliminated countrywoman Nudnida Luangnam 1-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-1 in the other semi-final, in today's final.

"We have never met but I'm quite confident I'll win. Ekshibarova is a consistent player while I'm a hard hitter and my shot are pretty accurate," said Nungnadda, who paired up

with Varatchaya Wongtianchai to win the women's doubles last week.

In the women's doubles semi-finals, Nudnida partnered Damayanti to beat Japan's Arai Maki and Lee Jin-A from South Korea 7-5 0-6 6-2.

Countrywomen Wilawan Choptang and Thassha Vitayaviroj beat Asha Kumar of Indonesia and Dilyara Saidkhodjayeva of Uzbekistan 7-5 6-1.

Meanwhile, in the US, Sonchat and Sanchai Ratiwatana trounced South Korean Daniel Yoo and American Denis Zivkovics 6-2 6-3 to advance to the men's doubles final in the Fifth Third Bank Tennis Championships in Kentucky.

Somporn Suphop

The Nation