Thais aim to kill off Kuwaitis

Thailand will seek to take advantage of the withdrawal of Kuwait’s ace Abdullah Maqdes as the two nations square off this weekend in the second round of the Davis Cup Zone Asia/Oceania Qualifying Group II, at the LTAT National Tennis Centre.

The hosts, a young team led by rising star Pruchya Isarow, should have the edge despite the absence of regulars Danai Udomchoke and doubles twins Sonchat and Sanchai Ratiwatana.

The tie kicks off today with a clash between the 813-ranked Pruchya and fellow teenager Abdulhameed al-Shati, a replacement for Maqdes who withdrew with a foot injury. Next on court are 19-year-old WishayaTrongcharoenchaikul and the 33-year-old Mohammad Ghareeb. 

“I have never played al-Shati – he’s still at junior level. I’m confident of winning all my three matches,” said Pruchya who won two his singles and doubles rubbers in the first round against Hong Kong in Phuket two months ago. Pruchya will also team up against Ghareeb and Hassan al-Mousa in tomorrow’s doubles. 

Back this week after two tournaments in Japan, Thai No 2 Wishaya said Bangkok’s baking heat would not affect the desert-based Kuwaitis.

“I’ve seen Ghareeb practice a bit. He’s a big guy with solid groundstrokes. I bet he has big serves too. If I can play up to my level, I should have a chance. I don’t want to go to a fifth set – it’s too hot out there,” said Wishaya, whose only Davis Cup win in three attempts came against Hong Kong’s Oqnian Kolev in February.

Sunday’s action kicks off with Pruchya versus Ghareeb followed by Wishaya against al-Shati. Truevision5 will broadcast the whole tie live. 

Thailand have cruised past Kuwait in their three previous meetings – 5-0 in 1990, 5-0 in 1993 and 4-1 last year. The victors this time out will take on the winners of the match between the Philippines and Pakistan in September. 

 

Fighting Venus into third round

Venus Williams rallied in each set yesterday for a second-round victory in the WTA Family Circle Cup in Charleston, United States, a day after sister Serena crashed out.

Venus, the 11th seed who won the title on the green clay at Charleston in 2004, defeated South African Chanelle Scheepers 7-5, 7-5.

“She was playing so well, but the good thing is that when I get behind, I give even more effort and get even more focused,” said Venus, who lost in the semi-finals last year to her younger sister Serena.

Serena, the world No ` and top seed, was stunned by Slovakian Jana Cepelova, the American unable to maintain her momentum after lifting an emotional seventh title in Miami at the weekend.

Venus said the defeat would give her sister a well-deserved chance to rest. Venus, herself a seven-time Grand Slam champion who has battled injury and illness the past two years, is very much alive.

She won her first WTA title in 16 months in Dubai in February.

“I’ve been playing well from behind lately, which is something you really have to be able to do to win big matches,” she said. “You’re not always going to be ahead.”

She next faces rising Canadian star Eugenie Bouchard, the sixth seed.

Another up-and-coming youngster, Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina, upset fifth-seeded American Sloane Stephens 6-4 6-4 to book a third-round berth.