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Published on October 10, 2007

Tamarine Tanasugarn was safely through to the second round of the US$200,000 PTT Bangkok Open when her Romanian opponent retired due to fatigue and illness during their opening match at the LTAT National Tennis Development Centre yesterday.

Last year's finalist and crowd favourite was leading 7-5 3-1 and 15-15 when Edina Gallovits called it quits. The retirement did not come as a surprise as the Romanian was treated on court for almost 20 minutes after the opening set.

"The highly humid condition was tough for her and there was no wind in the stadium. I was a bit lucky to win the match this way,'' said Tamarine who made a series of unforced errors at the beginning while trailing 1-3 and 2-4.

"I came from hard surface in Tokyo to a slow court here which could explain why my game was still rusty. I just have to focus and get used to the conditions,'' added the Thai No 1 who will play the winner between second seed Venus Williams and Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark in round two. The Williams-Wozniacki is due at 6pm today.

"Both have a similar style, hitting flat and serving big. I have to play solid defence and attack first,'' said Tamarine who unleashed a series of flat groundstrokes that found the line yesterday.

Tammy will not have a day's rest before her singles second round tomorrow as she and Japanese Aiko Nakamura are to play their doubles first match with France's Camille Pin and Argentina's Emilia Salerni at 6pm today.

Rising Thai star Noppawan Lertcheewakarn failed to emulate her compatriot, crashing out in the first round match against seventh seed Flavia Pennetta of Italy.

The 49th ranked Pennetta gave a tennis lesson to the local wildcard entrant before advancing with a comfortable 6-0 6-2 win. Pennetta's penetrating flat groundstrokes kept the Thai teenager laden-footed throughout the 59 minute-match.

"She played solidly from the baseline which forced me to take some risks but I missed. But I learned a lot from this match and will have to go back home and fix my game,'' said the 15-year-old from Chiang Mai.

In the other first round action, third seed Shahar Peer of Israel made an impressive start in her return to the Kingdom, saving a set point at 4-5 in the first set to beat Melinda Czink of Hungary 7-6 (7-4) 6-4. The world No 16 celebrated her first career trophy in Pattaya in her last visit in Thailand in 2006.

"I'm glad to be back because I always play well here. But today I wasn't playing my best tennis. I hope that I improve next round and win a few more matches,'' said the Israeli who lines up a second round clash against Russian

Anastasia Rodionova who stemmed the run of qualifier Akgul Amanmuradova of Uzbekistan 6-4 6-3.

Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic stunned tournament's No 6 Aiko Nakamura of Japan 6-4 7-6 (7-5), Olga Poutchkova of Russia downed another qualifier Anne Kremer of Luxembourg 6-3 4-6 6-2 and Dominika Cibulkova of the Slovak Republic ousted Emilia Slerni of Argentina 6-2 4-6 6-2.

In the doubles first round played late on Monday's night, Sophia Mulsap and Varatchaya Wongteanchai of Thailand upended fourth seeded Loudres Dominiguez Lino and Arantxa Parra Santonja of Spain 6-4 7-6 (7-5).

Lerpong Amsa-ngiam

The Nation

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