Plummeting to 303 in the world after failing to defend points she won in an American Challenger last year, the Hat Yai-born player is drawn to play Venezuela's Maria Vento-Kabchi for the first time at 10am.

The Thai picked up the back injury while playing in Japan two weeks ago. Yesterday, she started hitting again after spending five days away from the courts.

"I hit for two hours and still felt a slight pain. I also felt tired because I hadn't practised since Sunday,'' said Napaporn, who practised with Nudnida Luangnam, a main-draw wildcard entrant, yesterday.

"I don't expect much when I'm not physically 100 per cent. I will try my best out there and see what happens,'' said Napaporn, who is one of six local challengers in the qualifying round.

Rising teenage star Nungnadda Wannasuk from Nakhon Ratchasima is also due to play today, against South Korean Hee Sun Lyoo-suh. The other Thai set to play today is wildcard Ketravee Attachoo, who meets South Korea's Mi Yoo.

The other three - Nicha Lertpitaksinchai, Noppawan Lertcheewakarn and Varatchaya Wongteanchai - have all received first-round byes.

The top eight seeds - Meng Yuan of China, world-ranked No 108, Erika Takao of Japan (144), Hsieh Su-wei of Taiwan (154), Ryoko Fuda of Japan (160), Yan Zi of China (162), Mariana Diaz-Oliva of Argentina (217), American Shikha Uberoi (219) and Angelique Widjaja of Indonesia, the former champion in Pattaya, ranked 230 - have first-round byes.

Lerpong Amsa-ngiam

The Nation