NICHA MOVES INTO ROUND 2
Sixth seed Nicha Lertpitaksinchai beat Michika Ozeki of Japan 62 63 to reach the second round of the US$15,000 Chang ITF Women's Circuit 9 at the Rama Garden Sport Complex yesterday.
The Thai No 4, who had to take the qualifying route to enter the main event, hit some impressive ground¬strokes to seal the victory in one hour and 27 minutes for her second win over the Japanese whom she had beaten in two sets in Balikpapan last year.
“I decided to enter this tournament in the last minute as I thought I would play a WTA event in Uzbekistan. But when I realised I would not be eligi¬ble to play, I came into this tourna¬ment instead and had to enter the qualifying,” said Nicha No 393 in the world.
“I played her before so I knew I had to keep her out of the comfort zone. I ran down a lot of shots and waited for her to miss,” added Nicha, who will take on either Tamara Curovic of Serbia or Mana Ayukawa of Japan in the second round.
Nicha’s doubles partner Peantarn Plipuech upset eighth seed Nudnida Luangnam 63 62 to emerge as one of the four locals to have won their matches yesterday. The other two were Chompoothip Jandakate, who advanced to the second round when Nungnadda Wannasuk retired at 46 due to sickness and Varunya Wongteanchai, who scored a double bagel over Plobrung Plipuech 60 60.
Elsewhere, qualifier Alice Bacquie beat Victoria Muntean 60 75 in an allFrench showdown. Kinnie Laisne of France came from behind to beat Slovakia’s Zuzana Luknarova 67 (27) 64 75 and seventh seed Yuuki Tanaka of Japan ousted Nichapa Rungtein 60 62.
