Bunyawi Ousts Chinese Rival to Reach Hua Hin Circuit 2

The 18-year-old from Nakhon Ratchasima, one of the local favourites to challenge for the title in one of the three on-going ITF circuits at the True Arena Hua Hin suffered a shock first round exit last week by the hand of Japanese Aki Yamasoto 6-3 6-3.

 

“Last week I lost my desire to play tennis for no reason. So I hit the ball with no goal and I paid the price for that,” said the teenage rising star. The defeat turned out to be a good boost for her to salvage her pride this week.

 

“This week the passion for tennis is back again. I was having fun during my match and was so focused. Even my opponent hit some big serves, I tried to keep my eyes on the ball and returned them back,” added the national Fed Cup player. Her next foe is another Chinese player Shuyue Ma who wasted just one game demolishing local Tamachan Momkoonthod  6-0 6-1.

 

“I’ve never played her before so I have to study her style during the first few games. I have to move her around to keep her off the comfort zone,” she said.

 

Sixth seed Nudnida Luangnam and seventh seed Varunya Wongteanchai also joined Bunyawi in the round of 16. Nudnida, the most senior among the Thais in the draw at 29 years, spent just 38 minutes on court when Akari Inoue of Japan retired with sickness at 6-3. Varunya also advanced following a 6-4 6-4 victory over Patcharin Cheapchandej .

 

Second seed Katahrina Lehnert of the Philippines toppled American Lorraine Guillermo 6-3 6-2 while third seed Guo Hanyu of China, the circuit 1 winner, extended her run with a 7-5 6-1 win over  Li Yuenu of China.

 

Eighth seed Natalija Kostic of Serbia , Aki Yamasoto of Japan, Xin Yuan and  Zheng Wushuang of China and Arina Taluyenko of Kazakhstan all proceeded to the next round.

 

Meanwhile in the JWS ATT Thailand Series M 6 which is also taking place at this same venue, four-circuit winner Pruchya Isarow and circuit five champion Phassawit Burapharitta will set a re-match in today’s final after both scored double wins yesterday.

 

Pruchya beat Nantthasith Kunsuwan 6-2 6-1 in the morning’s quarter-final before crushing Hao Yuan Ng of  Singapore 6-0 6-1 later in the afternoon’s semi-finals. Phassawit beat Grittaboon Prahmanee 6-4 2-1 (retire) and then upset top seed Jirat Navasirisomboon 6-4 6-0. Pruchya just beat Phassawit in the last week’s Circuit 4 final in straight sets.