• 
• 

Published on July 28, 2007

Completely drained after playing three matches on Thursday, the teenage star lost the gruelling first set 6-7 (6-8) but made a great effort in the next two by hitting risky shots that bore fruit as she prevailed 6-7 6-2 6-1.

"I thought I'd have to go to hospital because I was so worn out by the third set. My body was tiring and I had to use my brain to stay alive," said the 15-year-old, who had to finish a singles and two doubles matches on Thursday.

"The match was a lot closer than the score suggests. We had to play many deuces. I just took a few more risks at the end, while she started missing," said the youngster, who was allowed to rest for only an hour before the doubles final, where she and Napaporn Tongsalee went down to Sophia Mulsap and Varatchaya Wongteanchai 6-4 4-6 1-6.

"It was disappointing to lose the doubles. I was tired from the singles, but it is not an excuse. A loss is a loss," added Noppawan, who rallied from 2-5 to put Rompies to the test in the first set of the singles.

In fact, the Thai survived a double set point at 3-5 to pull level at five all in the opener, which then went to a tie-break. She was even on the brink of taking the set at 6-5 with a mini-break, but the Indonesian effected a deep volley to turn the situation around.

In the next two sets, Noppawan relied on her double-fisted ground strokes, which were too much for Rompies to handle.

The teen has never won an ITF trophy but can fancy her chances today when she takes on China's Lu Jia Xing, who stunned compatriot and third seed Liang Chen 6-2 6-4 in the other semi-final.

"I'm gonna give everything I have to win this, no matter how exhausted I am. Lu is a good player, but she's had some tough matches too this week."

Noppawan, from Chiang Mai, appeared in her first final in Jakarta in April but lost to Nungnadda Wannasuk, the winner of the second circuit in Khon Kaen last week.

Lerpong Amsa-ngiam

The Nation