Young Bunyawi Hopes to Make Amends
Hua Hin - Teenage rising star Bunyawi Thamchaiwat hoped to make amends from last week’s heart-breaking defeat as she kicks off her campaign today in the US$25,000 Singha Cal-Comp & XYZ Printing ITF Women's Circuit 2 at True Arena Hua Hin.
The local wildcard holder was up a break at 4-3 and 40-30 in the final set against Katarzyna Kawan of Poland in the quarter-finals of the previous circuit only to lose that match 7-6 (7-3) 3-6 6-7 (3-7) after over three marathon hours. She burst into tears after that tussles and was determined to summon her better form this week.
“I learned a lot from that match. I have to be more careful playing crucial points and must capitalize on these opportunities,” said the 18-year-old from Nakhon Ratchasima who has a Herculean task waiting for her today in the form of second-seeded Jia-Jing Lu, the world No 236.
“No matter whom you are drawn against this week is tough. I saw Lu practise and learned that she is a very solid baseliner. She tends to go for the directions rather than the power. I have to be really patient against this type of player,” said Bunyawi, one of the eight Thais due to take actions today.
Among them is Thai No 2 and fifth seed Peangtarn Plipuech who just touched down in Thailand at 3am on Monday after finishing runner-up in the WTA doubles final in Seoul along with Japanese Akiko Omae on Sunday.
The 267 th ranked Peangtarn also had to drive to the resort town later in the afternoon and bemoaned she was exhausted from long journey.
“I began to wonder if I would be ready to play. I will need a long good sleep to recover from the jet lag. I hope my recent form will carry me through,” said Pengtarn, the only Thai who won a US$25,000 title this year ( in Japan). She will take on Kamonwan Buayam in the all Thai first round affair.
Kamonwan meanwhile teamed up with Taiwanese Lee Pei-Chi to beat Chinese Tian Ran and XIn Yuan in the doubles first round yesterday. Nudnida Luangnam and Varunya Wongteanchai beat Tamachan Momkoonthod and Plobrung Plipuech 4-6 6-4 10-5. Patcharin Cheapchandej and Chompoothip Jandakate beat Katharina Lehnert of the Philippines and Irina Ramialison of France 6-2 7-6 (7-4).
In the opening round actions, wildcard entrant Varunya Wongteanchai went down to Chinese qualifier Hanyu Guo 6-3 6-4, Jiaxi Lu of China edged past Irina Ramialison of France 7-6 (7-0) 2-6 6-4, Russian Marta Paigina ousted Xu Liu Sun of China 6-3 6-3 and South Korean qualifier Na Ri Kim beat Filipina national player Katharina Lehnert 6-3 6-2.
