FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
nationthailand

Evergreen Tamarine just too good for Kerimbayeva

Evergreen Tamarine just too good for Kerimbayeva

Tamarine Tanasugarn launched her campaign to return to the top 100 with an impressive first-round win in the US$25,000 Singha-BEC Tero ITF Women's Circuit 2 at the Rama Garden yesterday.

At 37 and ranked 387 in the world, Tamarine easily defeated 19-year-old Kamila Kerimbayeva of Kazakhstan 6-2 6-3 to advance to the second round of the US$25,000 event.
The former world No 19, who has won a tournament in Noto, Japan, in September, was focusing only on doubles over the past couple of years. But she was inspired by the performances of her idol 44-year-old Kimiko Date of Japan who is still playing competitive tennis. 
“If Date at 44 can do it, why can’t I?,” said Tamarine who received a wild card into the tournament.
“Actually my plan was to go to China and play there but I didn’t apply for the visa in time. So I decided to play here to tune myself up for another event in Ningbo at the end of this month.
But the veteran admitted she had to adjust her game and work harder in the singles as there are many new faces and up-and-coming players.
“I have no information about these girls. Each match I enter I have to learn their game at that point and figure out how to play them. Like today it was not easy as she is a good player and the winds changed direction all the time,” said Tamarine who will play Russia’s Victoria Kan in the next round.
Elsewhere, Varatchaya Wongteanchai, last week’s semi-finalist, beat Zhang Ling of China 6-2 6-4. The other Thai first round winner was Kamonwan Buayam who toppled Slovenian Tadeja Majeric 6-1 6-0. Nudnida Luangnam lost to Elizaveta Kulichkova of Russia 0-6 0-6 while Nicha Lertpitaksinchai went down to Ipek Soylu of Turkey 6-7 7-5.
nationthailand