Nungnadda Into Semis

Thai sensation Nungnadda Wannasuk outclassed South Korean Kim Sun-jung in the US$10,000 SAT-PTT ITF Women's Circuit Tournament quarter-finals to step towards her initial home trophy at the Srichaphan Tennis Academy in Khon Kaen on Thursday.

Nungnadda established a 5-2 lead in both sets but allowed her opponent to briefly fight back before advancing with a 6-3 6-4 victory to become the last Thai standing in the competition.

"She tried to play forehand inside out all the time because her backhand is the weaker side. My game plan is to attack her backhand to keep her out of the comfort zone,'' said Nungnadda who lines up a semi-final clash against Indonesian qualifier Jessy Rompies of Indonesia, a 1-6 6-0 6-2 winner South Korean Lee Cho-won.

"She has a very good forehand and that's one thing I have to be careful. But I beat her once in Indonesia and I'm quiet confident to be able to achieve the same result,'' said the teenager who comfortably beat Rompies 6-0 6-4 in Tarakan in May.

At 17, Nungnadda has lifted up three ITF trophies but has yet to win on homesoil. Her best run in the Kingdom was finishing a runner-up last year in Bangkok.

"I haven't looked that far about winning the title. What I'm more concerned is on giving my all and good results will show."

Her countrywoman Varanya Vijuksanaboon, a qualifier, could not find a way to tackle with fourth-seeded Chen Yi of Taiwan, losing in straight sets 7-5 6-3.  Chen,  the last seeded player, will play last week's champion Vlada Ekshibarova  of Uzbekistan, a 6-2 6-1 winner over Venise Wing-Yau Chan of Hong Kong.

Lerpong Amsa-ngiam

The Nation