Thailand Fails to Advance to the Final
Hua Hin - Host Thailand suffered a heart-breaking defeat to Japan 1-2 in the last round robin competition, missing the chance to reach the FED Cup Zone Asia/Oceania Qualifying Group I final after settling at second in Pool A yesterday at True Arena Hua Hi
The Kingdom was in fact just having two match points but failed to capitalize on the chance. The country was up 1-0 first when Bunyawi Thamchaiwat fought back from 4-6 2-5 to upset the 206 th ranked Eri Hozumi 4-6 7-5 6-4 in a nail-bitting battle. But Thai No 1 Luksika Kumkhum , with two match points at 6-0 5-4 blew her opportunities away as she went down to world No 56 Nao Hibino 6-0 5-7 1-6, allowing the visitor to level for one all.
In the end Japan won the crucial doubles to wrap up the encounter. The more experienced Shuko Aoyama and Eri Hozuma proved a better teamwork for Peangtarn Plipuech and Kamonwan Buayam, sealing off the victory following a 7-5 6-0 win.
It was a disappointing result for Thailand who had convincing wins over India 3-0 and Uzbekistan 3-0 from the first two days. But Thailand with two wins and one defeat like Japan had to be content at second in the pool when head-to-head factor of the two countries were taken into consideration.
Japan as a result moved into today’s final against Taiwan, winner of Pool B, while Thailand will battle for the third place against China, runner-up in Pool B.
“We have gone far beyond expectations considering from the fact that our team consists of two young players with little experience. We came so close to winning but things like this can happen. There are a few factors that were beyond our hand,” said captain Pracharapol Khamsaman.
The 17-year-old Bunyawi was on the brink of defeat as she fell a double break at 2-5 in the second set. But she then again showed her never-die attitude to reel off five games in a row to level the tie and managed a crucial break in the 10 th game of the final set for her third straight Fed Cup wins.
“I didn’t even realize that I was one game away from defeat. I just knew that she was leading. But I always play better when I am behind. It’s been beyond target to win all three matches I played,” said the 629 th ranked Thai.
“I’m more confident now. I start believing in myself that I can play with higher ranked opponents which will benefit me in other professional tournaments when I have to play these good players,” said the country’s top junior.
Luksika after establishing a huge lead at 5-2 in the second set and having a couple of match points at 5-4 let a string on unforced errors come out of her racquet to drop give games in a row. She never recovered from then on.
“It was a pity to let that huge lead away and I’m deeply sorry for that. After 5-2, she changed a game plan and never allowed me to play my game,” said the heart-broken Luksika who also lost to the Japanese in the WTA Hua Hin Championship last year.
Today, Kazakhstan will play against India to decide the fifth place while Uzbekistan and South Korea will compete to avoid relegation to Group II next year.
