PATTAYA Thailand, January 29, 2013 Thailand's rising star Luksika Kumkhum(WTA-155) outplayed Aussie Casey Dellacqua, earlier today to advance to the second round of $US235,000 PTT Pattaya Open at Dusit Resorts Hotel Tennis Courts.
The Chantaburi teenager, who has reached the second round of Australian Open this year, continued her good run with a 6-2, 6-2, win over world No.123 Casey Dellacqua of Australia in 66 minutes.
The Thai 19-year-old was particularly impressive, serving five aces and won five of the 8 break points (62%) she held, whereas Dellacqua had no aces and clinched only one of her 3 break point (33%) chances. " I am happy with the way I played today. I didn't feel any pressure and I served much better than at the Australian Open " said Luksika who joined Varatchaya into the second round.
However, The Thai world No.155 will face a much tougher opponent in the second round, where she will take on world No.15 and second seeded Maria Kirilenko of Russia. " Kirilenko is a world top player. Everything she is better than me.
I have nothing to lose and I just want to play my own game. " added Luksika who is now working with Khun Suang Chantra-urai (ITF coach leval 3) at Pyramid Tennis Academy.............More Photo Album >>>> Click here
Varatchaya stuns Beck in Pattaya
PATTAYA Thailand, January 29, 2013 Wildcard entrant Varatchaya Wongteanchai of Thailand created a flutter when she shocked world number 68 Annika Beck in the first round of the $US235,000 PTT Pattaya Open at Dusit Resorts Hotel Tennis Courts yesterday.
Varatchaya, fresh from winning her first ITF $50,000 career title in Quanzhou last month, needed 90 minutes to beat German Annika Beck in straight set 6-3, 6-3, to reach WTA second round for the first time in her career.
The Chiangrai world No.248, who is now working with Khun Suang Chantra-urai (ITF coach leval 3), sets up second round clash with Marina Erakovic of New Zealand, a 6-2, 6-2 winner over third-seeded Su-Wei Hsieh of Taiwan. In doubles, Wongteanchais' sisters, Varatchaya Wongteanchai and Varunya Wongteanchai, upset third-seeded of Yung-Jan Chan and Hao-Ching Chan 6-4, 3-6, 10-7 in one hour and 32 minutes.............More Photo Album >>>> Click here
Teenager Luksika score big win in Grand Slam debut
MELBOURNE Australia, January 16, 2013 World No.201 Luksika Kumkhum pulled off the biggest upset on day two of the Australian Open 2013 after she knocked out world number 38 Sofia Arvidsson in the first round yesterday.
Luksika, who had played three qualifying matches to reach the main draw, needed 89 minutes to take Sofia Arvidsson of Sweden out of the competition with a 7-6(5), 6-4 win at Melbourne Park Tennis Center in Melbourne, Australia.
The Chantraburi 19-year-old who became the second Thai woman to win a Grand Slam singles match, after Tamarine Tanasugarn, serving two aces and won four of the 10 break points (40%) she held, whereas Arvidsson had five aces and clinched only three of her 7 break point (43%) chances. " I defeated the world No 38 in a Grand Slam. It was a biggest win in my life. I went for my shot too much in the first three match-point. " said Luksika who will take on American world No.63 Jamie Hampton in the second round. Luksika's photo album 123
Luksika gains Grand Slam MD berth
MELBOURNE Australia, January 12, 2013 Thailand's rising star Luksika Kumkhum(WTA-201) earned her spot in the main draw of the Australian Open 2013, winning the final qualifying matches at Melbourne Park Tennis Center in Melbourne, Australia earlier today.
Unseeded Luksika Kumkhum defeated Russia's Marta Sirotkina in three-set 7-6(6), 3-6, 6-2 in a match lasting two hours and 10 minutes, to gain Grand Slam main draw berth for the first time in her carrer.
In all, The Chantaburi teenager had eliminated three good players along the way – Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez (WTA-158) 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 in the first round; Japanese Kurumi Nara (WTA-149) in the second round 6-1, 5-7, 6-3; upset Marta Sirotkina (WTA-146) in three-set 7-6(6), 3-6, 6-2 in the final round.
The Thai 19-year-old was particularly impressive, serving two aces and won four of the 6 break points (67%) she held, whereas Sirotkina had two aces and clinched only three of her 8 break point (38%) chances.
Luksika will take on Sweden's 29-year-old world number 38 Sofia Arvidsson in the main draw first round. Luksika's photo album 123
Unseeded Varatchaya wins maiden $50,000 title
QUANZHOU, China, January 12, 2013 Unseeded Varatchaya Wongteanchai (WTA-317) played her best in the final to be crowned the champion in the $50,000
Blossom-Garden Cup
in Quanzhou earlier today.
The Chiang-rai 23-year-old rounded off an impressive week's tennis in Quanzhou by beating Ukraine top seeded Nadiya Kichenok in three-set battle to claim the title.
In all, the doubles specialist, had eliminated two seeded players along the way – Japanese eighth-seed Shuko Aoyama (WTA-295) in the first round 7-5, 6-1; upset tournament top seed Nadiya Kichenok(WTA-250) of Ukraine 6-2, 67(5), 76(5) in the final.
It was Varatchaya's first career $50,000 title after bagging maiden $25,000 title at Balikpapan in June 2011. Varatchaya's photo album123456789101112131415161718
