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Published on February 1, 2008

Thailand's dream of earning a spot in the World Group II play-offs suffered a setback after they lost to Uzbekistan 1-2 in the Fed Cup Zone Asia/Oceania Group I at the National Tennis Development Centre yesterday.

The hosts, competing in Pool B, lost the first rubber when former world top-20 player Iroda Tulyaganova shrugged off a slow start in the first set to beat Suchanan Viratprasert 2-6 6-1 6-0.

"She was serving well and put pressure on me. After the first set, she changed her game and made me go for my shots. But I hurried too much and missed,'' Suchanan said.

The Uzbeks claimed the victory when Akgul Aman-muradova employed her rocket serves to beat the error-prone Tamarine Tanasugarn 6-3 4-6 6-2 to register her first win over the Thai after four attempts.

"She played better than in the past. She barely missed a rally and had big serves,'' said Tamarine, who later teamed up with Napaporn Tongsalee to beat Vlada Ekshibarova and Albina Khabibulina 7-5 6-4 in the doubles.

Uzbekistan, with two successive wins, including a surprise victory over second-seeds Taiwan, now lead Pool B and are predicted to pick up their third point today in the last round-robin tie with Hong Kong. If so, they will advance to tomorrow's play-off against the top team from Pool A.

The hosts' situation is vulnerable as they have only one win so far. They must surprise Taiwan and hope for Hong Kong to cause an upset in today's competition.

"Taiwan is stronger than us. Our chance depends on if we can win the two singles rubbers because they have a good doubles team. However, I think Uzbekistan is the favourite to top the group,'' Tamarine said.

The Thais are keeping their fingers crossed for a repeat of last year when Hong Kong upset Uzbek-istan in the last round-robin which rewarded Thailand, with a better win-loss record, a spot in the play-offs.

In the other Pool B tie, Taiwan rallied to beat Hong Kong. Hong Kong's Jun Yang stunned Chan Chin-wei 6-3 6-4 before Chan Yung-jan rescued her team with a 6-0 6-1 win over Ling Zhang. Chuang Chia-jung and Hsieh Su-wei beat Zi Jun Yang and Ling Zhang 6-3 6-2 to make it 2-1 for Taiwan.

Unfancied Indonesia extended their giant-killing run by getting the better of top seeds Australia 2-1 in Pool A.

Ayu Fani Damayanti beat Australian Open junior runner-up Jessica Moore, a replacement for the injured Alicia Molik, 6-3 6-4 before SEA Games gold medallist Sandy Gumulya shocked world No 57 Casey Dellacqua 7-6 (7/5) 7-6 (7/5). Rennae Stubbs and Dellacqua beat Viven Silfany and Lavinia Tananta in the doubles rubber 6-2 6-1.

Indonesia, who upset India on Wednesday, will play New Zealand today while Australia take on India.

India slumped to their second-straight defeat when they went down fighting to New Zealand 1-2.

Isha Lakhani pipped Sacha Jones 6-7 (7/9) 6-1 6-4 for the Indian first point but Marina Erakovic ousted Sunitha Rao 6-0 7-6 (9/7) to force the crucial doubles which was won by Leanne Baker and Erakovic 6-2 6-2 over Lakhani and Rao.

Lerpong Amsa-ngiam

 The Nation

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