Kamonwan Topples Chinese Rival in Hua Hin
Third seeded Kamonwan Buayam found energy from deserts as she toppled Zheng Wushuang of China 6-3 6-2 to reach round two of the US$10,000 Thailand ITF Women's Pro Circuit Week 1 the True Arena Hua Hin yesterday.
After going through a strict diet programme which excluded all sugar from her menu, Kamonwan said she successfully cut down her weight to 62kg but realized her body needed something sweet.
During the diet the 20-year-old admitted she felt weak and together with a lack of confidence she bowed out of the first rounds in six consecutive tournaments.
Realising she was too rigid with her routine, the local rising star reunited herself with sweets again when she came to the resort town two weeks ago. A few pounds she may gain but sugar somehow made her happy and finally ended up the losing streaks by upsetting Thai No 2 Peangtarn Plipuech last week in a US$25,000 ITF event.
“Ice cream was my first sweets in months. I felt fresh and energetic and began to hit the ball with more power than when I was on a diet,” said the national Fed Cup player Kamonwan. “I’ve become relaxed a little with my diet and it bears fruits. But I’m still careful with what I take into my body so that I won’t have to worry about my weight again, said Kamonwan who used to go up to 72kg last year.
After playing three weeks in Hua Hin, Kamonwan has rearranged her competition programme by withdrawing from the two remaining ITF events (from a total of five) here in order recharge her body for the bigger events in China.
“As this is my last event in Hua Hin for the moment, I’m determined to do well. Today I swang the racquet quite hard and everything went in,” said the current national champion who will play her close friend Patcharin Cheapchandej today.
Meanwhile another close buddy of Kamonwan, Bunyawi Thamchaiwat, the eighth seed, was below par as she succumbed to unforced errors and wet down to Aki Yamasoto of Japan 6-3 6-3. Two more Thais were also shown the exit. Varunya Wongteanchai lost to Akari Inoue of Japan 6-3 3-6 0-6 and seventh seed Kang Jia-Qi of China eliminated Julaluck Sae-eung 6-1 6-0 in just 51 minutes.
Top seed Aleksandrina Nadydenova of Bulgaria survived a scary defeat before she came back from 0-3 down in the second set to beat Xin Yuan of China 6-7 (5-7) 6-4 7-6 (8-6) in three hours and 15 minutes.
