Brilliant Ratiwatanas Tame Kuwati Duo to Put Thailand up 2-1 in Davis Cup
The superb duo of Sonchat and Sanchai Ratiwatana put Thailand upfront at 2-1 against host Kuwait after their comfortable doubles win in the Davis Cup Zone Asia/Oceania Qualifying Group II opening round tie at the Yamouk Sport Club in Kuwait City on Saturday.
The doubles specialists, winners of 42 Challenger titles, showed no mercy to the underdogs Abdulhamid Mubarak and Adulrahman Alawadhi and won their match 6-2 6-0 6-3 in just one hour and 13 minutes.
“It was pretty easy for us as Kuwait decided to send young players to gain some experience,” said Sonchat.
“After the first set, we were advised by the captain to solid tennis and that’s why we didn’t lose a game. In the third it was close at the beginning but overall we controlled the situation better,” said Sanchai, the younger brother.
Abdulhamid Mubarak and Adulrahman Alawadhi
The win was a good recovery for the second seed Thailand after losing one point from the Friday’s rubbers. Kuwati veteran Mohammad Ghareeb stunned Thai ace Wishaya Trongcharoenchaikul in five sets to level the tie for the hosts after Thai No 2 Jirat Navasirisomboon beat Abdullah Maqdes 6-2 6-4 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 in the opening rubber.
Kuwait made the last minute change of their doubles nomination, opting to rest Ghareeb and Maqdes in hope to turn things around and beat Thailand in the final day. Thai captain Vittaya Samrej, however, thought otherwise.
“They keep their best players for the singles on Sunday. But I believe Wishaya can win the fourth rubber and close the deal,” Vittaya said.
Thailand needs just one more rubber to advance into the next round and play a winner between Indonesia and the Philippines. Wishaya is to start the fourth rubber against Maqdes at 2pm Bangkok time before Jirat and Ghareeb confronts in the last match.
