Ratchanok leads Thailand threesome into last eight

The Thai second seed won the first game 21-18 but quickly fell behind 6-11 in the second in front of some 1,000 worried fans. The 17-year-old then delved deep to unleash her full armoury of weapons, including some brilliant drop-shots, to fight her way back to match point at 20-17.

But the gutsy Chinese hit back and surged ahead 21-20, before squandering a set point by hitting her serve long. Unhappy with the call, she was still on her feet at 22-23. But she hit her shot long to surrender 22-24 with roars from the crowd echoing around the stadium.

 “She took the initiative at the start of the second game and didn’t give me any opportunity. I just tried to pin her at the back of the court and avoid making mistakes,’’ said Ratchanok, a 12th grader at Assumption School, Thon Buri.

“She was more confident at the end of the second game but I tried to hang in there. I knew she would miss if she rushed her shots. I was relieved we didn’t have to play a third game as she would have had the advantage,’’ said the world No 11, who is into her first Thailand Open quarter-final. Japan’s Minatsu Mitani, the seventh seed, is her next opponent.

 “Japanese players run for almost every shot. I’ll just try to stick to my game and try not to let her get in the groove,’’ said the Thai No 1.

Joining her in today’s quarter-finals were third-seeded Porntip Buranaprasertsuk and Sapsiree Taerattanachai, 2010 World Youth Olympics gold medallist. Porntip was briefly tested by Lydia Li Ya Cheah of Malaysia before advancing to the last eight for the second successive year with a straight-game victory 21-18 22-20. Sapsiree Taerattanachai overcame a fierce challenge from Japan’s Kaori Imabeppu before finally prevailing 20-22 21-19 21-15.

But Busanan Ongbumrungpan failed to emulate her compatriots, losing to China’s Sun Yu 11-21 19-21 while top seed Saina Nehwal of India ousted China’s Li Han 21-7 21-13.

In the men’s singles third round, top seed Lin Dan of China had to summon his best in the decider to beat an inspired Suppanya Avihingsanon 21-11 19-21 21-10. With his new blond look, the reigning Olympic champion found a surprise package in the Thai before underlining his supremacy. He was to play old rival and Thai favourite Boonsak Ponsana, who won his match against Shih Kuei Chun of Taiwan, late last night. 

In the mixed doubles second round, second-seeded Sudket Prapakamol and Saralee Thoungthongkam overcame a late fight-back by Adi Pratama and Nadya Melati of Indonesia to win 21-8 25-23. In the men’s doubles first round, second-seeded Maneepong Jongjit and Bodin Issara, two of the six Thais eligible for the London Games, were forced to retire at 4-5 in the fight against Ji Wook Kang and Sang Joon Lee of South Korea after Bodin suffered an injury to his right ankle.