Game, set and match for Mai
Sixteen-year-old Mai Napatt Nirundorn did something her mother failed to do almost 20 years ago when she won a match at Wimbledon on Saturday.
The Thai teenager, daughter of former SEA Games and Asian Games national player Pimpisamai Kansuthi, dashed the hopes of Briton Holly Fischer 7-5 4-6 6-1 in the girls’ singles opening round on court No 7.
Despite playing in her first ever Major, Mai, who was born in the United States, got the better of her nerves to brush aside cheers from the home fans and settle her score with the rival who beat her in another earlier junior event.
“It’s quite challenging because the crowd was on her side,” said Mai who won a junior Grade 2 tournament in Kolkata, India in January. “Basically I just had my coach, my mother and brother cheering me on.”
Ranked 67th in the world junior rankings, the youngster was forced out of her comfort zone and use slices and drop shots which worked well on the grass court of the All England Club.
“I was really nervous before and during the match. But I’m really glad I pulled through and won,” she added.
Pimpisamai, who quit tennis in her early 20s to further her studies in the US, beamed with pride as she watched her daughter adjust her game.
“She normally prefers to hit groundstrokes,” said Pimpisamai whose younger son Tanapat also plays tennis. “I told her to mix up her shots when playing on grass. It was unbelievable to see her hit those shots which proved really effective out there,” said the ex-tennis player who brought her children back to Thailand three years ago to pursue their tennis goals.
The former player added that in view, playing in a Grand Slam was inspiring her daughter to keep working hard in order to achieve her goals. The ambience of the only grass Major plus a chance to rub shoulders with mega stars like Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Raphael Nadal and Serena Williams was really paying off.
“Sometimes she doesn’t understand why I keep telling her to do this and that. Now she’s tasted this experience, she understands she must work hard to come back here again in the future,” Pimpisamai said.
And catching glimpses of tennis’ best-known Grand Slam champions is not just valuable experience for Mai, but adds even greater impetus to realise her dream.
“It’s really exciting. I get to see all my idols play. My goal is to make it to the pro Grand Slams, to become like my idols and I will work very hard to achieve it,” Mai added.
On Tuesday, she will face another tough challenge against 12th-seeded Sohyun Park of South Korea. The world No 19 eliminated the Thai from a grass court tournament in Roehampton a week ago.
But win or lose, she’s already moved further along the path her mother trod and could well go even further.
“It’s really special for me to have her support. I’m trying to follow in her footsteps. I love having my family support me,” Mai enthused,
