Three Thais Make Semi-finals in Hua Hin Circuit 3

3 yesterday.

Two teenagers Bunyawi Thamchaiwat and Plobrung Plipuech plus 23-year-old Varunya Wongteanhcai kept the Thai flag flying high at the True Arena Hua Hin on Thursday as it was the first time in years that three Thais managed to emerge in the semi-finals of an ITF event.

The top seed Bunyawi, 18, recollected her fragile concentration in the middle of the first set to beat Ng Kwan Yau of Hong Kong 6-4 6-1 for her first semi-final since May. Touted as the future hope of Thai tennis, Bunyawi has yet to live up to the expectations in all ITF events at home this year.  She cited numbness on her right arm as the nuisance that hampered her from reaching the deep stage of a tournament.

Bunyawi Thamchaiwat 

“Since the second week in Hua Hin, I’ve felt numb on my arm which could happen at any time even when I sleep. So it’s difficult for me to control the shot,” said the National Fed Cup star who cited insufficient fitness training as the cause of the problem.

“I focus only on match play and spend little time in the gym. After consulting with a physio, I need to strengthen my shoulder muscles to stay away from this numbness,” added Bunyawi who will set up an all Thai semi-final showdown with fifth seed Varunya Wongteanhcai, a 6-3 6-4 victor over Patcharin Chaepchandej.

“I’d love reach the final again for the first time in almost a year. But Varunya is such a fit player and I don’t know what to expect from her. I will be OK no matter what the result is as I don’t want to be under tense.”

Varunya Wongteanchai 

Her peer Plobrung, the eighth seed, lost just three games in a demolition over second seed Zhao Di of China 6-3 6-0 in the match that last just 58 minutes

Plobrung Plipuech

“My opponent hit the ball aggressively so my game plan was to play consistently and waited for her to miss. I made her move all the time as that was when she struggled,” said the 18-year-old girl in her first ever semi-final in an ITF level. She is a step away from an all Thai final but to achieve that she must clear today’s hurdle with the fourth seed Natalija Kostic of Serbia who beat seventh seed Tamachan Momkhoonthod 7-5 6-4.

“I’m happy to reach this stage but the field is wide open for any player this week. I beat Kostic four weeks ago but it was very tough as she has all round game. I must be really focused to do that again.”

In the doubles semi-final, Varunya and Nudnida Luangnam beat American Lorraine Guillermo and Kristina Smith 6-2 6-0. Tamachan and Chompoothip Jindakate beat Derina Nur Haliza of Indonesia and Arina Tauyenko of Uzbekistan 7-5 6-3.