Luksika stopped at quarter-finals again by Golubic
Viktorija Golubic of Switzerland added salt to the wound of Luksika Kumkhum by stopping the Thai No 1 at the quarter-final stage of a WTA event for second straight week in the US$125,000 OEC Taipei Open on Friday.
The all-rounded Swiss who hits a single backhand beat the Thai 7-6 (7-6) 4-6 6-3 seven days after she beat the Thai 7-6 (7-2) 6-0 in Hua Hin.
The Thai ace in fact had a couple of set points at 5-4 in the first set but she squandered her opportunities away by pounding an easy return to the net on the first chance before the Swiss whipped a forehand winner to save the second set point
After some poor play in the tie-break which cost her the opening set, Luksika raised the level of her game to produce a double break and led 3-0 before Golubic fought back for three all.
A loose service game cost Golubic the seventh game, allowing the Thai to go up a break again at 4-3. That break was enough for the Thai to take the set which was over after the Swiss returned a forehand to the net.
In the final set the Thai made way too many unforced errors while the Swiss proved mentally tougher during crucial points.
