Sanchai pulls out, hopes brother gets entry
Lower back injury forced Sanchai Ratiwatana to skip next week's PTT Thailand Open, leaving his twin brother Sonchat to keep his fingers crossed for a wildcard in the doubles from the organisers.
Sanchai had a spinal disc herniation during his double match in the Davis Cup tie against South Korea in Gimchoen on Saturday and retired immediately.
"I was able to walk better today. I'm not in a position to train this week and get ready for the Thailand Open. It's very unfortunate,'' bemoaned Sanchai who had to be stretchered off from the court three days ago.
He is now back in Bangkok and will have a MRI at the Vejthani hospital tomorrow morning. The doubles specialist said the injury has bothered him for the fourth time over a 12 month span.
"Unlike the last three times where it happened while playing or training, this one hit me when I was about to get up from the chair. I'm very concerned and hope it will not be a serious one,'' added Sanchai, who won the Thailand Open doubles trophy alongside his brother in 2007.
The Ratiwatana twins have already informed the organisers about the injury and are fervently hoping for a wildcard for the elder Sonchat who is still in good shape and wishes to play in the biggest tennis tournament in Thailand.
"At this moment my brother still has no idea whom to pair with. Hopefully, he will be allowed to team up with a Thai,'' Sanchai added.
In Seoul, Tamarine Tanasugarn bowed out from both singles and doubles first round matches of the US$220,000 Hansol Korea Open yesterday. Tammy lost to her old doubles partner Yaroslava Shvedo-va of Kazakhstan 6-0 6-2 in the singles. Teaming up with Alexandra Dulgheru, she was beaten by Shuko Aoyama and Rika Fujiwara 6-2 4-6 10-1.
