Thailand's Punn settles scores with China's Hufu, to meet Soeda
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Unfancied Punn Bodhidatta settled his scores with Hufu Wang of China 6-3 6-3 in the first qualifying round at Impact Arena in Muang Thong Thani yesterday.
The little-known Thai player, who was beaten by the Chinese in Shanghai a few weeks ago, said he was inspired by the feat of the Thai women’s volleyball team that beat China in the Asian Women’s Championship semi-finals in Nakhon Ratchasima on Friday.
“If the women’s volleyball team could beat China, I believed I could beat him too. I really thought so and so were several friends of mine,” said the 20-year-old player, who squandered a 3-1 lead in the final set in their previous meeting in a Challenger event in China.
“I knew I had to keep at least four balls in play if we rallied. I had to keep cool and not rush like the way I did the last time we played,” added the Bangkok University sophomore.
Coincidentally, his next round opponent is third seed Go Soeda of Japan whose team took on Thailand in the women’s volleyball competition final last night. But in this case Punn was not so confident about his chances against the world No 123, who was No 49 in 2012.
“He is a player at a different level. He used to be in the top 100. I just have to go out there and enjoy the game. Even if Thailand beat Japan tonight, I’m not sure about my chances against Go,” added Punn who admitted he got several useful tips from twins Sonchat and Sanchai Ratiwatana for the Thailand Open.
In other qualifying matches, Warut Sornbutnark beat Warut Korkiatthaworn 6-2 6-2, Taiwanese Jui-Chen Hung beat Dane Chuntraruk 6-1 3-6 6-2, Christopher Kas of Germany beat Aviruth Phaphui 6-2 6-3, sixth seed Amir Weintraub of Isarel ousted American Nichoklas Monroe 6-3 6-2. India’s Karunuday Singh saved two match points before outlasting teenage rising star Pruchya Isarow 6-2 4-6 7-6 (10-8) in two hours and 31 minutes.
Meanwhile, tour four seeds Tomas Berdych, defendind Richard Gasquet, Milos Raonic and 2009 winner Gilles Simon received first-round byes after the draw was conducted yesterday. Thai wildcard holder Wishaya Trongcharoenchaikul has been drawn to meet Australian No 2 and world No 55 Marinko Matosevic.
“No matter whom I play, it will be tough at this level. It’s my first ATP match and I don’t have as much experience as he has. I have to discuss the game plan with my coach and see how he plays during the first few games,” said the 18-year-old Thai top junior.Fifth-seeded Mikhael Youzhny of Russia plays Italy’s Paolp Lorenzo while fans favourite and seventh seed Jarkko Nieminen of Finland takes on Igor Sijsling of the Netherlands. But the real first round highlight is the match-up between Australian No 1 Bernard Tomic and Croatian giant Ivo Karlovic.
