Tamarine makes it hard on herself to score victory
Tamarine Tanasugarn survived a topsyturvy match against Taiwan's Chang Kaichen in the second round of the US$220,000 PTT Pattaya Open at the Dusit Thani Hotel yesterday. The Thai veteran won 7-6 (9-7) 6-3.
Tamarine served for the first set three times at 5-2, 5-4 and 6-5 but squandered all her chances including a set point which she missed by making an unforced backhand error. As both players entered the tiebreak, the Taiwanese looked to be in charge by leading 41 and then had three set points at 63.
Two unforced errors by the Taiwanese allowed the Thai veteran to claw back into the contest. The Thai set up her third set point at 8-7 with a winner before a lucky shot hit the net and rolled over to the other side sealing the 63-minute opener in her favour.
Tammy had to call the trainer several times to tighten the tape on her elbow, check her respiratory system and massage her thighs during the second set. But she managed a crucial break to go up 5-3 and held the next game to win the match after one hour and 47 minutes. It was a sweet revenge for the Thai who lost to Chang 6-3 6-4 in the Fed Cup last week in Shenzhen. With the victory Tamarine has levelled the headtohead record with the Taiwanese at 2-2. She will next take on either fourthseeded Maria Kirilenko of Russia or Anastasia Rodionova of Australia in the quarterfinals on Friday. In her first visit to the beach city, seventhseeded Sorana Cirstea of Romania fell in love with the tourna
