The country's No-3 player upset the 357th-ranked Toshihide Matsui 6-4 6-4 to book a second qualifying match with second-seeded Lars Burgsmuller, who advanced after American Phillip King retired with an injury at 6-3 3-2.

Five Thais failed to survive yesterday's action. Rising star Kirati Siributwong had no answer to his more experienced South African opponent, Fritz Wolmarans, who easily beat him 6-1 6-2.

Qualifying-competition third-seed Goe Sueda of Japan wasted only two games in demolishing Sornsakol Supakit 6-1 6-1. Jamie Murray of Great Britain eliminated Pitichart Chockchaijaroen 7-6 (7-2) 6-2, while former Pattaya junior champion Luka Gregorc of Slovenia ousted Palanupap Puranawit 6-2 6-4.

Two seeds were casualties yesterday. Tournament No 7 Benjamin Balleret of Monaco was stunned by Germany's Sebastien Rieschick, who won 6-2 6-3. Taiwan's eighth-seeded Chen Ti was knocked out by another German, Matthia Bachinger, 6-4 7-5.

Fourth-seeded Mischa Zverev prevailed over Israeli Andy Ram 6-2 6-1 and fifth-seeded Viktor Troicki of Serbia and Montenegro was on fire, whitewashing Japan's Hijiri Kaneko 6-0 6-0.

Other winners on the day were Swede Michael Ryderstedt, Kazahk Syrym Abduukhalikov and Russia's Dmitri Sitak.

Organisers yesterday awarded wildcards into the main draw to three players: Spain's Feliciano Lopez, Croatian Marin Cilic and Russian Mikhail Ledovskikh.

Meanwhile, HRH Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana opened her ATP Thailand Open shirt collection at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Bangkok yesterday. The Princess designed T-shirts and polo shirts, which were worn by three tennis stars - Ivan Ljubicic, Benjamin Baker and Tamarine Tanasugarn - and models, including former Miss Thailand World Cindy Burbridge.

Each T-shirt costs Bt200, while the price of a polo shirt is Bt450. All proceeds will go to His Majesty the King's foundations.

Lerpong Amsa-ngiam

The Nation