Tamarine beats back scare
Tamarine Tanasugarn played through pain to win her second-round match against Taiwan's Chang Kai-Chen 6-2 1-6 6-4 in the US$115,000 Dunlop Srixon World Challenge in Toyota, Japan yesterday.
The Thai veteran, who suffered a back injury, will next take on her doubles partner and Thai No 1 Luksika Kumkhum, who eased past Japan’s Ayaka Okuno 6-2 6-2.
“In the second set, out of nowhere I felt pain in my back and couldn’t move well. Luckily it felt better in the third set, allowing me to play at my normal level again,” said Tammy, who received treatment from a physiotherapist after the match.
Tammy is hoping lightning doesn’t strike twice in the quarter-final against top seed and defending champion Luksika – two years ago injury forced her to retire from a match against her younger rival.
“After the treatment I felt better but I have no idea how my back will react when I get up tomorrow morning. I just hope I recover in time.”
In the men’s doubles quarter-finals, Thai duo Sonchat and Sanchai Ratiwatana suffered an upset against Japan’s Toshihide Matsui and Yasutaka Uchiyama, losing 7-6 (8-10) 2-6 8-10.
