Jirat Emerges Thailand's New No 1

The teenager overtook Pol Wattanakul (No 884) as the country’s highest ranked player on the ATP Tour, moving 138 places from the previous week. Thanks to his second round berth in the ATP Bangkok Challenger 4 two weeks ago.

The Bangkokian who begged his father to buy him a racquet as he drove past a court 12 years ago  is also one of the youngest Thai No 1 players in recent years at 19 years and 10 months.

“I’m so proud to become the highest ranked Thai this week on the ATP. I never expected it this soon. It’s a good boost for me to keep moving forwards in this career,” said Jirat, who finished doubles runner-up along with Patcharapol Kawin in the Thailand Men’s Futures 3 in Hua Hin last week.

Perhaps Jirat could be one of the least known No 1 player in Thailand in these past several years. He had moderate success during the junior years by winning several ITF Group 5 events and never was included in the national team.

Last year in March he started sending signals of his potentials by reaching a Men’s Futures semi-final in Indonesia which was a very rare case for an 18-year-old Thai boy to reach such stage of an overseas Futures. He also went on to win two qualifying matches for a maindraw slot in the US$125,000 ATP Challenger in Hua Hin (very few Thais can enter a Challenger through the qualifying) in November and reached a quarter-finals at the Thailand Futures 9 in December.

Jirat is also one of the two Thais (Wishaya Trongcharoenchaikul) this year to reach the quarter-finals in a Futures tournament after he progressed to the quarter-finals in Vietnam last month.

Currently without sponsorship, Jirat will enter five Futures series in Vietnam through his family support and take part in three remaining Futures in Hua Hin later this year in hope to climb up further in the rankings and finish the season as the No 1 player in the Kingdom.

However, the 2014 National Games gold medalist pointed out that physical condition was one aspect he must improve significantly as he is considered quite slim for a tennis player.

“I eat a lot but I don’t seem to get as big as I would want to. From now on I have to spend more time at the gym and pay more attention on nutrition as well as sports science,” said Jirat who grew up seeing Paradorn Srichaphan as his idol.

Making the national team is one of his goals next year. He is looking forwards to making a debut in either the Davis Cup or the SEA Games in 2017.

“It would be an honour to play for the country which is something I have longed for since I was a child. This year I maybe not ready for that but next year I think it should be my time.”