Luksika only Thai left in Aust qualifiers
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Teenage talent Luksika Kumkhum emerged the only Thai survivor from Australian Open qualifying after three Thais bit the dust at Melbourne Park yesterday.
Luksika rebounded after losing the first set to oust Spaniard Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez 4-6 6-3 6-1 in the first of three qualifying rounds, but Tamarine Tanasugarn and Nunida Luangnam were shown the exit.
Tamarine lost an epic baseline battle with Cagla Buyukakcayof Turkey 4-6 6-2 10-8 after two hours and 55 minutes.
Tammy led 8-7 in the final set but failed to serve out the match as the Turk reeled off three
straight games for victory. Earlier, Nudnida was outclassed 6-1 6-3 by Spaniard Estrella Cabeza Candela 1-6 3-6.
Ranked world No 201, the 19-year-old Luksika relied on her double-fisted ground-strokes to clinch the win in her debut match in the year’s first Major.
“She was serving well but lacked power.
“Her serve-and-volley game put me under pressure, which was why I made a lot of errors in the first set,” said the Thai No 2.
“Then I focused on staying calm and keeping the ball in play, which forced her to make errors. It feels good to get through the opening qualifying round in my first Grand Slam.
“It’s a good boost for me to try even harder,” said Luksika, who faces Japan’s Kuruki Nara in today’s second round.
“Every player here is well prepared so no matter who I play, it won’t be easy,” she added.
Nudnida, who last week was the only Thai to qualify for the WTA in Auckland, failed to find her momentum against the 119th-ranked Candela.
“She is really solid from the baseline. She plays clay-court style but hits hard.
“I should have played differently and must go back [to practise] to work on that,” said Nudnida who also fell in the first round here two years ago.
In men’s singles second-round qualifying, Danai Udomchoke was ousted by Marsel Ilhan of Turkey 4-6 6-3 6-1.
