July 9 , 2004
Courtesy : Lerpong Amsa-Ngiam (The Nation)
Published on Jul 9, 2004

Pratt, Stosur have fight on their hands

Despite the presence of two top-100 players in their roster, Australia are nervous about playing the hosts in the Fed Cup World Group Play-offs at the SAT Stadium at Muang Thong Thani this weekend.

The 41st-ranked Nicole Pratt and No 90 Samantha Stosur will have to deal with a noisy, vociferous crowd to overcome Thailand and return to World Group status.

Had No 1 Alicia Molik and reigning Wimbledon doubles champion Rennae Stubbs been here, the Australian team would have had a comfortable passage to the next round. However, since the two cried off citing personal reasons, the onus is on Pratt and Stosur to handle arch-rival Tamarine Tanasugarn. Not to mention the 174th-ranked Suchanan Viratprasert, who has made it a habit to take higher-ranked opponents to the limits.

In the draw that was conducted at a leading hotel in the city yesterday, Pratt got Thai No 2 Suchanan in the opening rubber, while Stosur was pitted against Tamarine. On Sunday, the reverse singles and doubles will be played. Australia nominated Lisa McShea and Christina Wheeler against Napaporn Tongsalee and Montinee Tangphong in the doubles.

Former world No 1 and four-time Australian Open champion Evonne Goolagong-Cawley said she had expected all along that playing Thailand in the Kingdom would be tough.

“It is never easy to play for your country especially when you play away from home. Thailand has Tammy, who always plays incredibly and she beat our top player [Molik] at Wimbledon. We expect tough matches from her,’’ said the Australian captain who, however, believes her team will win the tie despite the absence of Molik and Stubbs.

“We have Pratt, who is an experienced player and a great strength for the team. We also have young players who have good qualifications. We are confident that we can win,’’ added Australian great Goolagong-Cawley, who also won Wimbledon and the French Open.

Pratt has been playing for Australia in the Cup since 1998 and has a moderate record of 12 wins and nine losses. She is quite positive about improving her record against Suchanan, about whom she has little information.

“I don’t know her game, but Evonne and Mark [Woodforde] will make the game plan for me. I will try to beat my opponent and make it one-nil up for my team,’’ said Pratt, who has been to Thailand several times to play in Pattaya.

The 20-year-old Stosur is winless in her three Fed Cup matches since making her debut last year. She lost two singles and one doubles.

“I’m looking forward to the match against Tamarine. I didn’t play well in my previous Cup, losing two singles. But I hope third time will be lucky,’’ said the Brisbane-based player.

Although neither Molik nor Stubbs will be present this time, Australia's recent record in play-offs gives cause for optimism. Last year, after losing to Spain in the first round, they secured a World Group place by beating Colombia 3-2.

Suchanan said she is quite nervous about kicking off the tie, but feels the cheers from the fans will give her the strength she needs.

“I’m excited and a little tense but the good thing is, I don’t have to wait around to play the second rubber. Pratt has a better ranking but I have nothing to lose and will do my best,’’ said Suchanan.

Tamarine is confident about tackling Stosur, who is however likely to test the Thai with her power game.

“She serves hard and hits the balls hard, just like Molik. I have to rely on my experience against a young player like her,’’ Tamarine said.

Under new ITF Fed Cup rules, the winners of this month’s play-offs will go into the newly created World Group II. The teams who made it through the first-round ties in April will comprise World Group I.

Channel 9 and UBC SuperSport Gold will televise the tie from 1pm both on Saturday and Sunday.