Bunyawi Leads Thai Charge in Hua Hin ITF.
Second seed Bunyawi Thamchaiwat spearheaded the Thai charge into quarter-finals of the US$10,000 Cal-Comp & XYZ Printing ITF Pro Circuit 5 as three locals survived their second round matches under the windy but hot condition at the at True Arena Hua yesterday.
The winner of Circuit 3 Bunyawi utilised a flurry for powerful groundstrokes from both wings to ease past Yukina Saigo of Japan 6-1 6-3 to set up a showdown with last week’s finalist Nudnida Luangnam who clawed back to oust young rival Tamachan Momkoonthod 4-6 6-2 6-1.
“I felt good about all parts of my game. I kept serving and hitting powerful ball to give her problems all the time ,” said the teenager whose only hiccup during the match was at 5-1 on serves.
“It was windy at 5-1. I lost my focus and she took the opportunity. So I stuck to my plan by playing aggressive tennis to serve out the match,” Bunyawi said.
Bunyawi went down to Nudnida, 11 years her senior, in an ITF in Bangkok two years ago. She was well aware of the variety of play of the 29-year-old opponent and was prepared to be extra patient for that.
“There will be a lot of balls coming back from her. I have to play my game but at the same time must avoid giving free points. I want to keep winning,” the Nakhon Ratchasima based said.
Unfancied Chompoothip Jandakate was the other winning Thai on Wednesday. She reached her first ever ITF quarter-final by upsetting Indonesian national player Jessy Rompies 6-2 6-1.
“I came into these two weeks hoping to get some points and improve my rankings but never expected to come this far,” said the 21-year-old who is determined to proceed further as she takes on Mai Hontama of Japan, a surprise winner over eighth Zhang Ling of Hong Kong 7-5 6-1.
“She plays offensive tennis but is very solid at the same time. But I’m quite confident with my game and my fitness level at the moment. I have no fear as it could only hold me back,” Chompoothip said.
In the other second round matches, top seed Hsu Chieh-Yu of Taiwan was briefly tested by Nozomi Fujika of Japan before advancing with a 7-6 (10-8) 6-2 win. Fifth Lee So-Ra of South Korea ousted German teenager Vivian Wolff 6-4 6-1 and sixth seed Natalija Kostic routed out Komola Umarova of Uzbekistan 6-4 6-0.
The last quarter-final spot was booked by the up-and-coming Andrea Ka of Cambodia who relied on her all-court game to beat the grumpy Arina Folts of Uzbekistan 6-4 6-7 (3-7) 6-3.
