Danai a step closer to Australian Open

Danai Udomchoke upset third seed Daniel Brands of Germany 6-2 4-6 6-2 in a rain-delayed first-round qualifier for the Australian Open yesterday.

The 201st-ranked Danai was leading his 112nd-ranked opponent 6-2 2-4 when rain interrupted their match on Tuesday. When play resumed yesterday, Danai recovered from his secondset lapse to wrap up the two-day encounter.

"I started the match with confidence. I hit the ball well and didn't miss any service return in the first set. I broke him twice - in the third game and fifth games - and won pretty easily,'' said the Thai No 1.

"At 20 in the second set, I missed some shots and the momentum changed. I lost four games in a row to go down 2-4 and then it started raining.

"When we came back on court yesterday, I broke him back for 44 and had a break point to go up 54. But he got some luck to get away and played well to break me for the set. But fortune was on my side in the third as I broke him twice for a 51 lead and finished the match,'' said Danai who today plays Frenchman Romain Jouan in the second of three qualifying rounds.

In the women's singles qualifying round, Noppawan Lertcheewakarn saw her hopes ended by a 7-5 7-5 defeat to American 17th seed Alison Riske.