Thai twins hope for favourable draw in doubles
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Doubles specialists Sonchat and Sanchai Ratiwatana hope Lady Luck will be smiling on them when the Olympic Games tennis competition draw is made.
The twotime ATP Tour winners received a last minute entry in the Olympics six days ago when Swiss maestro Roger Federer withdrew citing back injury.
The twins, who are making their first appearance in the Olympics arrived in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday without collecting their national blazers, consider themselves as underdogs despite a series of withdrawals by some of the biggest names in the sport.
“Although some top players are not coming, there are still several tough guys out there, including Rafael Nadal and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga who will play both the singles and doubles.
This is not easy at all,” said elder brother Sonchat. “It will be helpful if we don’t have to play top players in the early rounds. We want to put in some good results as this is our first time in the Games,” added Sanchai.
The twins on Wednesday had a practice session with the world top 60 duo from Chile, Julio Parelta and Hans Podlipnik Castillo at the tennis complex and were concerned about the safety of the newlyconstructed facility.
“Hopefully we don’t have to play the home team in the first round. The last time we played here, the entire crowd in the stadium were on their feet as if they were watching football. Judging from the condition of the stands, I’m not sure if it’s safe if they cheer that way,” Sanchai said.
He also complained about absence of any toiletries in the bathroom at the Athletes Village. “It’s funny. When they can give all athletes free Samsung mobile phones but cannot provide basic necessities like soap or a shampoo, we wonder about their logic.”
Meanwhile in Nonthaburi, Noppawan Lertcheewakarn settled a score with young rival Bunyawi Thamchaiwat by outlasting the teenager 75 36 62 in the quarterfinals of the US$25,000 Thailand ITF Tennis Pro Circuit.
