Special: On the road to Natalie Glebova

Watch the video clip by Mayuree Sukyingcharoenwong

He might not be having the best of times on court lately, but the love result is definitely in his favour as he prepares to announce his engagement to former Miss Universe Natalie Glebova in a private ceremony today.

To seal the engagement, he plans to give her a threekarat diamond ring worth a cool Bt10 million.

Super Ball, as the highprofile star with a trail of broken hearts behind him is known, will also speak out about why he has decided to tie the knot with one of the world's most beautiful women.

In the past, he quietly eased away from any efforts to get married despite the string of beautiful women he dated. He simply let it be known that he would not have a family until he was over 30.

In the meantime, Asia's number one tennis player was wooing dozens of beautiful models and stars around the world like pop singer Tata Young and super model Odette Henriette Jacqmin.

But Paradorn is now 28. Love has bloomed.

News of his impending engagement to the Canadian whose family emigrated from Russia has created a storm around the country

Natalie was crowned Miss Universe in Bangkok in 2005. Initially there were no signs at all that Paradorn had a serious interest in Natalie.

Dribs and drabs of rumour, gossip and speculation did the usual rounds of newspaper columns and Web boards. But it was so low key that it appeared even Natalie's parents, Vlad Slezin and Anna Gelbora, were not aware of the impending engagement.

The Srichaphan family is being very supportive of their youngest son. Mother Ubol, who in the past has been very protective of Paradorn, has changed her tune. She says she will love any girl that her son loves. In times past, Ubol would put on the overbearing mother act by screening any young ladies trying to become a part of Paradorn's life.

Paradorn met Natalie during the Thailand Open last year. At first, people thought there might be a brief romance between the two. But tongues ran wild when Natalie gave Paradorn a peck on his cheek as a reward for his quarterfinal win over Tim Henman.

As brand ambassadors for Boonrawd Brewery, Natalie and Paradorn came together for the company's promotional and social activities. A visit to Wat Prabatr Nampu in Saraburi changed the course of their lives. Natalie was touched when she saw Paradorn's affection for kids affected by HIV.

It seems their relationship has been building up quietly ever since. Even last month when Paradorn attended Danai Udomchoke's book launch, nobody suspected romance was blossoming.

Paradorn might be lucky in love but he's not quite as fortunate when it comes to tennis, which has consumed his life. He has been bothered by a severe wrist injury, which has resulted in him making a series of firstround exits.

Some blame Natalie for distracting him, for the tennis ace is truly smitten. But as he says: "I'm already 28 and I have to take a relationship seriously. Soon my career will be over and then it will be time to move on to the next phase of my life."

There is very little for Paradorn to do to prepare for his engagement. Having the cast on his injured right wrist removed and the arm checked was one of his more significant activities yesterday.

Meanwhile his family and his intended's had dinner together last night at the Oriental Hotel and will formally announce the engagement today at the Sukhothai Hotel.