Lucky-loser Peangtarn ousts French opponent for 1st home WTA match win
Lucky-loser Peangtarn Plipuech, a 27-year-old Thai player, capitalised on her persistent baseline game to upset world No 165 Chloe Paquet of France 7-6 (7-3) 3-6 6-4 in the US$275,000 WTA GSB Thailand Open at the True Arena in Hua Hin on Monday (February 10).
Petra Martic, Elina Svitolina (1st and 2nd from left) and Wang Qiang (right) during the opening ceremony.
Despite losing in the final qualifying round on Sunday, Peangtarn entered the main draw after Canadian star Eugenie Bouchard withdrew with injury.
Ranked 286th, she ran down all shots from the big-hitting Paquet, forcing error after error from the impatient opponent to prevail in two hours and 48 minutes.
"I didn't expect anything coming into this match as I got in as a lucky-loser while my opponent has better raking," said Peangtarn who has never advanced into round two of a home WTA event "I was so tired after this match but the win was really worth it," added the Thailand national player.
This is her first WTA Tour. She will play the winner between seventh-seeded Zhu Lin of China and Varvara Flink of Russia in round two.
"I will have to play an even tougher opponent in the next round. I hope I can have another good match," the Thai No 1 added.
Earlier in the day, fourth-seeded Sai Sai Zheng of China beat Natalija Kostic of Croatia 7-6 (8-6) 6-0. Eight-seeded Nao Hibino of Japan ousted Arina Rodionova of Australia 7-6 (7-5) 7-5. Storm Sanders of Australia moved past Ulrikke Eikeri of Norway 6-3 6-4 while Leonie Kung of Switzerland toppled Thai wildcard holder Patcharin Cheapchandej 6-0 6-3.
Top seed and world No 4 Elina Svitolina of Ukraine arrived in Hua Hin on Monday morning. She is to face Bibiane Schoofs of the Netherlands in the first round.
Leonie Kung of Switzerland
