Teamwork will take us ahead: Luksika

Luksika, along with Noppawan Lertcheewakarn, Tamarine Tanasugarn and Varatchaya Wongteanchai beat Uzbekistan 2-1 in the zone qualifier play-off which earned them a spot in the Group II play-off. The team, which returned to Bangkok yesterday morning, will appear in the elite group for the first time in eight years. 

“I think it’s compatibility and good teamwork that brought us this victory. And I hope if we keep up this good work, we would have our chances in the play-off,” said Luksika, who was appearing in her second Fed Cup.

“But no matter what country we face next, it would be tough because they are all at another level. We have to be well prepared and have a good plan to boost our chances in April,” said the world No 105, who cited that the experience of captain Priyakarn Salivorraroj, who was previously known as Napaporn Tongsalee, and Tamarine counted during the matches in Astana.

“We had meetings every night and made some changes to our plans and that bore fruit. I replaced Varatchaya twice in the doubles against Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan and that turned out to be decisive. The captain and Tammy thought that I was the appropriate choice because of my aggressive returns.

“But in the end it is all the team effort. We all did our best and we will carry this momentum into the next tie,” said Luksika, who will next fly to the US for two WTA premier events in Indian Wells and Miami.

It will be 36-year-old Tamarine’s third time in the play-off. “I never expected that I would have the chance to play the third World Group II Play-off. We won this not because we were stronger than Kazakhstan or Uzbekistan; it was because of good teamwork and good understanding.”

In Saturday’s encounter against Uzbekistan, Thailand lost the first rubber when Noppawan went down to Sabina Sharipova 6-4 7-6 (7-5) before Luksika levelled the tie with a 7-6 (7-3) 7-5 win over Nagina Abduraimova. Luksika and Tamarine finally wrapped up the tie with a 6-2 3-6 6-4 win over Sharipova and Abduraimova.