Kittipong faces Indo No 1 in Davis Cup
Thai No 2 Kittipong Wachiramanowong will take inspiration from his perfect Jakarta record against Indonesia's No 1 Christopher Rungkat when the two square off in today's opening rubber of the Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Qualifying Group II secondround tie in I
Kittipong, ranked world No 547, has lost three of their five encounters, but stung the Indonesian ace by winning the remaining two, both in Jakarta. Their sixth clash takes place today from 10am at the Gelora Bung Karno Tennis Stadium.
“I feel no pressure playing the opening rubber as I have been in this situation before. I will have to draw on those good memories going into the match,’’ said 22-year-old Songkhlaborn Kittipong.
“But Christopher has improved over the past few years and got more and more confident with the level of his game. It’s crucial that I take the first set to help me play more comfortably,’’ added Kittipong after the draw yesterday.
Thai No 1 Danai Udomchoke, No 168, is forecast a comfortable opening win against Aditya Hari Sasongko, ranked outside the top 1,000 along with the rest of the host team.
“I have never played him before but I’m quite relaxed going into the rubber. I can guarantee one point from me on Friday,’’ said a bullish Danai, who has won 36 of 51 Davis Cup singles rubbers since his Thai team debut in 1998.
“I’m pretty confident of gaining one point from Danai on the first day and another from Sonchat and Sanchai Ratiwatana in the doubles on Saturday. But if we can win both rubbers on Friday, it will be more comfortable for us,’’ said nonplaying captain Paradorn Srichaphan.
