Sisters salvage Thai pride after Tammy crashes out
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Varatchaya and her sister Varunya Wongteanchai lifted the spirits of Thai tennis fans yesterday with victory in the final of the US$25,000 Singha-BEC Tero ITF Women's Circuit 2 at Bangkok's Rama Gardens Hotel.
The doubles specialist and her sister came from a set down to beat fourth-seeded Martina Borecka of the Czech Republic and Lesley Kerkhove of the Netherlands 6-2 5-7 10-7 for their second US$25,000 title this year, after winning in Borneo in May.
Varatchaya and Varaunya’s victory came as a consolation for Thai fans after Tamarine Tanasugarn lost her semi-final match against fourth seed Elizaveta Kulochkova of Russia 0-6 2-6.
Tammy, who received a wild-card into the tournament, was never in her comfort zone against her 172nd-ranked rival who utilised powerful groundstrokes to snap the Thai veteran’s winning streak.
Standing between Kulochkova and the title is sixth seed Kerkhove, who beat Croatia’s Tereza Mrdeza in straight sets 7-5 6-3.
