Suwat says tournaments provide locals opportunity to earn world rankings
Nine ITF women’s circuit tournaments and six ITF men’s future events along with one US$150,000 ATP Challenger and a US$125,0000 WTA series competitions are due between April and December this year at the True Arena Hua Hin Sports Complex.
Out of the 15 ITF events, 12 offer prize money of US$15,000 at each stop while the remaining three women’s circuit tournaments hand out a bigger share, US$25,000 each, as they are sponsored by Cal-Comp Electronics (Thailand) PCL.
“The overall prize money of ITF events have been increased from US$10,000 to US$15,000. We have increased the number of events from 12 to 15 because of our success in organising the ITF series last year. The events provided opportunities for the local players to earn world rankings,” said Suwat Liptapanlop, the honorary president of the Lawn Tennis Association of Thailand.
Suwat said the True Arena will also organise an ATP Challenger and a WTA 125k series in November which will be the two biggest professional tennis events in Thailand this year.
“We expect a strong field this year. We plan to give wildcards not only for local but also for international players, who have the potential,” said Suwat, who hinted that there will be an exhibition event that will have some of the world’s top players in Hua Hin during the new year.
Meanwhile former world no 9 Paradorn Srichaphan hopes Chompoothip Jandakate will produce some solid results in the three women’s ITF circuit tournaments, which starts at the end of this month. Chompoothip, 21, is the only female player under the tutelage of the former ATP player, who runs an academy in Pattaya.
“I didn’t plan to coach a female player but in Chompoothip I saw fierce determination and a player who has definite goals. I worked with her for a month and I saw a complete change in her attitude and technical ability. I expect her to do well in the circuit tournaments,” said Paradorn.
