Kittipong Wachiramanowong, Peerakiat Siriluethaiwattana and Peerakit Siributwong all defeated compatriots to win their first round matches, but big hope Weerapat Doakmaiklee crashed out in the wet conditions.

Recovering from a wrist injury, Kittipong beat Pitichart Chokchaijaroen 6-3 6-4 to celebrate his first win in a Futures tournament.

"It's great to be able to play and win again after a two-month lay-off because of the injury. My shots were still not accurate, but somehow I managed to pull off the win,'' said the 11th grade student of the Suan Kulap Nonthaburi School, who will play second-seeded Nick Lindhal of Australia today.

"He has good running forehands and powerful groundstrokes. I have to play my game and attack him whenever chances are open,'' added the 16-year-old Kittipong.

Qualifier Peerakiat, who turns 17 today, was on fire as he dropped only one game to vanquish countryman Thanarat Pongsathien, a lucky loser, 6-0 6-1. Wild card entrant Peerakit Siributwong had no problems tackling qualifier Palanupap Puranawit 6-3 6-2.

Weerapat failed to live up to expectations and has now lost two consecutive opening round matches, falling to China's Xu Jun 6-3 7-5 yesterday. The other losing Thai on the day was young Pattrayu Chumpetch, who went down to Croatian sixth-seed Petar Jelenic 6-2 6-3.

In other first round matches, South Korean Kwon Hyung-tae beat Japan's Hiroyasu Sato 6-2 6-1, Australian Dayne Kelly ousted Hong Kong's Kevin Kun 6-7 (3-7) 6-1 6-1 and another Australian, Troy Gillham, dismissed Shahab Hassani-Nafez of Iran 7-6 (7-4) 6-1.

Meanwhile 2001 champion Lleyton Hewitt is heading into the US Open with orders to stay off the practise courts prior to the Grand Slam due to tendinitis in his right knee, Australian media reported yesterday.

Lerpong Amsa-ngiam

The Nation