MUM’S THE WORD

INSPIRED by rare courtside support from her mother, Patcharin Cheapchandej lifted her second ITF singles trophy with a straight-set win over junior world No 20 Liang En Shuo 7-6 (7-2) 6-0 in the final of the US$15,000 PTT-ITF Women’s Pro Circuit 5 in Nonthaburi yesterday.
The 22-year-old from Khon Kaen was briefly tested by her 17-year-old opponent in the early stages but dictated play from the first-set tie-break onwards.
The victory was all the sweeter as she had her mother Jintana cheering for the first time in years at the LTAT National Development Tennis Centre, after she flew home for a holiday from Norway, where she works.
“Having my mother watch me play was a good boost for me. She barely came to my matches as she’s been working in Sweden. I’m so overwhelmed to win this title in front of her,” said Patcharin, who claimed her second ITF crown since winning her maiden in Hua Hin in April.
“It’s always nice when you won a tournament as all the hard work on court and in the gym paid off. It motivates you to do even better,” added Patcharin, who had a temporary hiccup at one point during the final when she blew a 3-0 lead and allowed her young opponent to level at 3-3.
“She started hitting big after the third game, so I tried to hang in there and push the ball back as many as possible,” added the third Thai woman to win an ITF title at home this year after Peangtarn Plipuech and Luksika Kumkhum.
“But she started missing in the tie-break and seemed to lose steam from then on.”

Currently the world No 553, Patcharin hopes to crack the top 400 by the end of the year and to be in the national Fed Cup and Asian Games teams in 2018.
“I always want to represent the country. I played for Thailand in the World University Games and Asian Indoor Games this year but I hope I can play Fed Cup and Asian Games too,” added Patcharin, who won bronze medals from both events in Taiwan and Turkmenistan respectively.
In the men’s singles final, second seed Max Purcell of Australia edged out Martins Podzdus of Latvia 6-7 (7-9) 6-2 7-6 (7-4). 

Patcharin and her mother Jintana.