Kiwi Statham Wins ITF No 12
Jose Statham rallied back from the first set deficit to down old rival Finn Tearney 4-6 6-1 6-1 to lift up his second ITF title of the season during the all Aussie final showdown the US$15,000 Cal Comp & XYZ Printing ITF Pro Circuit 1 at the True Arena Hua Hin on Saturday.
The 30-year-old from Auckland, with superior groundstrokes, beat the 26-year-old opponent in two hour and 15 minutes to improve his head-to-head record over Tearney to 5-0.
This was his second title in 2017 after winning in Anning four months ago. He has won a total 12 ITF titles including twice earlier in Thailand in 2009 and 2012. However both finalists will not take part in week two of the ITF Men’s Futures Thailand week 2.
Finn Tearney
Former champion Chen Ti of Taiwan, No 224 in the world will be the top seed followed by Dayne Kelly of Australia, N0 386 and Yannick Jankovits of France. No 413.
Thai No 1 and 2 Wishaya Trongcharoenchaikul and Jirat Navasirisomboon will be the local hopes in the event as well as Pruchya Isarow who reached the semi-finals in week 1.
Former Thai No 1 Pol Wattanakul who spent a few months training in the US is back at home for the tournament and is playing in the qualifying stage.
