THURSDAY, March 28, 2024
nationthailand

Rus Produces Huge Comeback to Win Title in 3 Years

Rus Produces Huge Comeback to Win Title in 3 Years

Third seed Arantxa Rus of the Netherlands staged one of the greatest comebacks in her career by recovering from a set and 1-5 down to dash the hope of Nicha Lertpitaksinchai to claim her first title in three years in the final of the US$25,000 Singha Cal-

People at the True Arena Hua Hin were prepared to celebrate a seemingly victory of Nicha who was leading comfortably with a big margin at 6-3 and 5-1, with the Dutchwoman being overwhelmed with uncharacteristic errors.

All of a sudden the 25-year-old lefthander came back to life, holding her serves to follow at 2-5 and took risks that paid her dividends as she rallied back to win the remaining sets 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-3).

“It was a close a match. She played really well and aggressive. In the end it was all about fighting until the last point,” said the 237 th ranked Rus, a former world No 61 in 2012.

 

Perhaps it was a couple of sodas(cokes) she requested from the chair umpire during a changeover at 2-5 that  propelled her to revive from a brink of defeat.

“I was not feeling well at the beginning because of the heat and the tough matches I had all week. I had to ask for some pills, ice and some cokes. (Coke) It gave me a bit of energy,” added the Dutchwoman who earned the winner’s prize money of US$3,919. This is her first victory since 2013 where she won four US$25,000 ITF trophies.

“I’m very tired but I’m happy that I won. I’ve had some tough years and changed a new coach. I feel better now and I really enjoy here,” said Rus who will come back to Hua Hin in November for a WTA 125K series.

Despite squandering the lead and the second set away, Nicha herself showed some gutsy fight by bouncing back from 2-4 down and saved three match points before leveling the tie for five all. Both players failed to hold serves in the following games and another tie-break  was required to decide the winner.

Of the two players, Rus was the more energetic and more solid in the tie-break as she rallied all shots back with impressive unrelenting groundstrokes. Nicha attempted to take some risks but her forehand let her down, missing one shot after another before finally surrendering the fight.

“I was confident that I was going to win. I wanted it so bad and it set a backfire against me as I was under great pressure,” said Nicha still without a title in 16 months.

 

“My sincere apology for the Thai fans that I didn’t make it. But on the positive side, reaching the final is beyond target . I came here feeling exhausted from playing three straight weeks. The final is not so bad after all,” added Nicha who took home the runner’s up prize money of US$2,091.

The 311st ranked Nicha, however, will crack into the top 300 for the first time in her career when the world rankings are updated next week. 

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