Luksika raises her career goals after stunning end to year
Red-hot Luksika Kumkhum will focus on intensifying her physical fitness in a bid to play more on the WTA tour next year after capturing two WTA 125K Series titles in a fortnight.
The Thai ace has risen to a career-high world No66 this week after beating former Wimbledon finalist Sabine Lisicki of Germany in the WTA challenger level in Taiwan on Sunday, two weeks after the 25-year-old captured her maiden 125K series crown in Mumbai.
“I didn’t expect to win two 125K series in three weeks. Things just went my way the whole week in Taipei,” said Luksika, easily Thailand’s second most successful female tennis player after Tamarine Tanasugarn, who reached world No19 in 2002.
The end-of-season surge has prompted Luksika to switch her focus for next year from the ITF circuit to the world-leading WTA tour.
That will, however, demand the highest level of physical fitness, she admits.
“The players on the WTA Tour are very fit. If I hope to catch up with them, I will need to work hard during the off-season. I will have a week’s break and then resume my training,” said the Chanthaburi-based player, one of the very few players on the tour to hit the ball with two hands on both flanks.
Luksika is currently working with her physical trainer, Nat Na Songkhla, who will be travelling more with her in 2019.
“He is a physical trainer but has some knowledge in physical therapy, which is very helpful as he can give me massages after my matches,” she added.
By reaching the top 70, Luksika is relieved to now guaranteed a main-draw spot at the opening major of 2019, January’s Australian Open.
She will need to be at the top of her game because she has a lot of points to defend after reaching the third round at Melbourne Park 10 months ago, her best run in a major to date.
“I always play well early in the year, going into the start of the season. I hope I can play well again in Australia but it won’t be easy, I’ll have to be really well prepared,” she added.
Immediately after the year’s opening Grand Slam tournament, Luksika will enter Thailand’s home WTA event in Hua Hin, starting on January 28.
Her presence will be eagerly anticipated by home fans following her recent rise and the excitement is mutual.
“It’s one of the tournaments I’m looking forward to next year,” she said. “There will be a lot of expectations about me. I will try my best.”
