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Published on January 31, 2008

Host Thailand got off to a flying start as they demolished Hong Kong 3-0 in the rain-delayed opening day of the Fed Cup Zone Asia/Oceania Qualifying Group I tie at the National Tennis Development Centre yesterday.

After more than two hours of interruption, the Kingdom scored their first points as Nudnida Luangnam posted a 6-4 7-5 win over Zi Jun Yang before veteran Tamarine Tanasugarn ousted Ling Zhang 6-3 6-1 in just 59 minutes. The combination of Napaporn Tongsalee and Suchanan Viratprasert hammered the final nail with a 7-5 6-4 win over Ling and Po Kuen Lam .

With her back to the wall at 3-5 in the second set, Nudnida cut down on her unforced errors to come back into the contest, reeling off four games in a row to finish off her unranked opponent.

"I served a lot of double faults and rushed too much in the second set. After I lost my serve to go down 3-5, I gave it my all. I always play well when I'm behind,'' said Thai No 2 Nudnida, No 334 in the world.

Tamarine was a bit rusty in her first match since the Australian Open but it did not take the former world No 19 too long to get into rhythm.

"It took me awhile to settle down. At three all, I lifted my game. My serve was the key today,'' said Tamarine, who along with team- mates wore black ribbons to pay tribute to Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana.

Thailand face a real test today when they play Uzbekistan, who upset second seeds Taiwan 2-1.

The Uzbeks stunning victory over Taiwan was set in motion when 315th ranked Tulyaganova upset world No 95 Hsieh Su-wei 6-7 (5/7) 6-3 6-3, followed by the shocking 6-0 6-2 triumph of Amanmuradova over world No 66 Chan Yung-jan.

Yung-jan and Chan Chin-wei, the Australian Open finalists, prevented a whitewash, beating Vlada Ekshibarova and Albina Khabibulina 6-1 7-5.

In Pool A, top seeds Australia were extended to the doubles before moving past New Zealand. Casey Dellacqua won her match against Sacha Jones after the latter retired with cramps. But the Aussies lost the second rubber as world No 68 Alicia Molik had to forfeit her match against Marina Erakovic with a calf injury.    Dellacqua and Rennae Stubbs won their doubles 7-5 6-2 over Erakovic and Leanne Baker.

In the other upset result of the day, Indonesia upset third-seeded India 2-1 as the latter could not field injured Sania Mirza. Shika Uberoi beat Ayu Fani Damayanti 6-4 6-1 before SEA Games gold medallist Sandy Gumulya levelled the tie with a 6-1 3-6 6-3 win over Sunitha Rao.

Damayanti and Gumulya   beat Rao and Uberoi in the doubles 6-7 (7/9) 6-1 6-3.

Lerpong Amsa-ngiam

The Nation

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