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Published on July 18, 2007

Napaporn, who has been below par since the start of the season, was eliminated from the first round at the Srichaphan Tennis Academy last week. History repeated when a deluge suspended play for three hours.

The 6-3 2-6 6-3 defeat to the unseeded Uzbek was not a big surprise given that Ekshibarova is at the top of her game and won the trophy at the venue last week.

Local teenager Varanya Vijuksanaboon advanced to the second round yesterday but her progress came at the cost of compatriot Khunpak Issara who lost 6-1 6-1.

The Indian troops faltered as four of them walked from the court in defeat. The biggest surprise was the departure of second-seed Rushmi Chakravarthi, who was dumped out by South Korean Kim Sun-jung 6-3 6-0.

Last week's runner-up Isha Lakhani, the sixth-seed, was another casualty as she fell to Venise Chan Wing-yau of Hong Kong 6-7 (5-7) 6-2 6-4.

Third-seeded Liang Chen of China needed two sets to pick off Sanaa Bhambri of India 6-2 6-3 while Keren Shlomo of Israel had an easier time against Meghha Vakaria, 6-0 6-3.

Lu Jia-jung of China upset Cassandra Barr of Australia 6-4 6-4.