Danai to make his Masters debut
[TENNIS] The Kingdom's new No 1 Danai Udomchoke will make his Masters Series debut in the US$6.9 Million Sony Ericsson Open which gets underway this week at the Tennis Centre at Crandon Park in Miami.
The 79th ranked Danai, who ended the 10-year reign of Paradorn Srichaphan as the country's No 1 when he plunged to his lowest position of 83 since 2002, has never appeared in a Masters Series main draw before. He was stopped in the qualifying round of the Masters Series in Indian Wells. The 25-year-old is keen to produce a result worthy of his new status as the highest ranked Thai player. "My life is always about numbers and it has always been up and down. It would have been better if I had caught up with him [Paradorn] when he was in the top 50,'' said Danai, whose top position came about by default as Paradorn slipped down the rankings through a wrist injury. "I feel good to be No 1 but it's just a number. I became No 1 just because he dropped down,'' said Danai who hit his highest spot at 77 on the ATP rankings earlier this year. "I'd prefer posting good results and let that speak for itself. I want to start it here in Miami. My aim is to get through the first round,'' added Danai. He is fond of the slow surface at the Crandon Park and the conditions in Miami are similar to that of his home. "The weather is nice but it's a bit windy. The slow courts suit my game but the ball bounces a bit high. I'm trying to get used to the ball." One factor that will be an irritant for Danai in the beach city is his injured knee which he sustained during a Challenger event last week. The injury resulted in a second round defeat to Oliver Marach of Austria 4-6 7-5 6-1. "I still feel a little pain but it's not as bad as it was last week. I can move but I just have to be careful,'' said Danai who will be joined by Paradorn and Tamarine Tanasugarn in the tournament. Tamarine, meanwhile, has to compete in the qualifying round. She is the second seed and will play Croatian Ivana Lisjak in the first round. Paradorn, meanwhile, will be absent from the Davis Cup Zone Asia/Oceania Qualifying Group I tie against Japan next month to allow his wrist injury to heal. It will be his second straight withdrawal from the team championship event after he missed the first round tie against Taiwan in February where Thailand beat the hosts 3-2 in the away tie. His place will be taken by Weerapat Doakmaiklee while the rest of the team consists of Danai Udomchoke and twins Sonchat and Sanchai Ratiwatana.
Lerpong Amsa-ngiam The Nation
|
