Thai No 1 into Japan Open
Play
Despite committing 10 double faults Thai No 1 tennis player Luksika Kumkhum still managed to beat former Bangkok Open champion Vania King 6-3 7-5 to qualify for a berth in the US$235,000 HP Japan Women's Open in Osaka yesterday.
Luksika was inconsistent, especially on her first serves, but her attacking groundstrokes proved too much for American-Taiwanese King, winner of the 2006 WTA Bangkok Open.
“I had never played her before but I tried not to think about it coming into the match. It was windy and my arm got a little tight,” said the 119th-ranked Luksika, who be looking for revenge against Japan’s Ayumi Morita in the first round.
World No 65 Morita outlast the 20-year-old Thai 6-7 ( 7-9) 6-4 6-1 in their only previous meeting, in Kuala Lumpur in March.
“She has good angles and quick feet. It will be another tough task for me, but I will give it 100-per-cent against her this time.”
