Mighty Mouse Plobrung Storms into Hua Hin Quarter-final.
Up-and-coming teenage Plobrung Plipuech stamped her authority over Chinese fifth seed Lu Jiaxi of China by beating the rival 6-1 6-2 for the second time in three weeks during the second round of the US$10,000 Thailand ITF Women's Pro Circuit Week 1 at Tr
The petite 18-year-old girl, youngest sister of Thai No 2 Peangtarn, relied on her persistent baseline game and swift movement around the court to upset the 468 th ranked opponent whom she also beat6-3 4-6 6-2 a fortnight ago in a US$25,000 here in the resort town.
“The last time I played her it was a lot tougher. So I went onto the court knowing I had to be more focused and kept hitting the ball to her backhand and deep,” said Plobrung who jumped to a career highest at 842 this week following a quarter-final berth two weeks ago at this venue.
Despite her seize disadvantage, with only of 58 kg in weight versus 168cm in height, Plobrung said she had no fear against the bigger opponents who whack the ball a lot harder that she does.
“My speed helps neautralise the powerful ball from the other girls. My shots are more like well-placed rather than powerful. That’s who I counter punch with them,” said Plobrung who at the beginning of the season was outside the top 1,000.
The diminutive Plobrung explained that one of the reasons why she was improving recently was because she parted with her old camp and she switched back to play her own game.
“For two years I had to play the style I didn’t like and seemingly I didn’t go anywhere. So I’m back playing my own game and it bear fruits. I think I’m going to the right direction. Just have to work harder on my physical condition,” added the teenager who will next meet Guo Hanyu of China, the conqueror of top seed Aleksandrina Nadydenova of Bulgaria 7-5 6-1.
Joining Plobrung in the final eight was third seed Kamonwan Buayam who took two hours and three minutes to move past her close buddy Patcharin Cheapchandej 7-6 (7-3) 6-2.
Cho I-Hsuan of Taiwan, the youngest in the tournament at 16, continued her impressive run (after an upset win over second seed Irina Ramialison of France in round one) beat Akari Inoue of Japan 7-5 7-6 (7-3).
Indian Karman Kaur Thandi won a marathon battle over Filipina Katharina Lehnert 2-6 6-3 7-6 (7-5) in almost three hours. Aki Yamasoto of Japan also needed three sets to beat Emelie Francati of Denmark 6-3 4-6 7-6 (7-2).
Chinese qualifier Li Yixuan upset fourth seed Sun compatriot Xu Liu of China 6-3 7-6 (8-6) while seventh seed Kang Jia-Qi of China toppled Liu Si Qi 6-1 6-0 in the other all Chinese showdown.
