Published on Apr 25, 2004
Courtesy : Deccan Haeald Sports  

Sania Mirza was far from her best as Thailand blasted past the Indian eves.

NEW DELHI, PTI: After beating Korea and giving Indonesia a close run in the league, India came down with a thud in the knockouts, losing 2-0 to top seeds Thailand in the Fed Cup womens’ team tennis competition here on Saturday.

The difference in standards between the two teams was all too embarrassing as first Suchanan Viratprasert subdued Sania Mirza 7-6 (7-3), 6-1 and then world number 54 Tamarine Tanasugarn cruised past Rushmi Chakravarthy 6-0, 6-1 in the singles.

The inconsequential doubles match was not played.

Thailand advanced to the World Group playoff while India remained in Group 1.
Captain Enrico Piperno said he was “very satisfied” with the team’s performance this week.

“I am very satisfied. Ankita (Bhambri) winning three matches, and given the team we had and the injuries, I think we had a great week,” he said.

Piperno played Rushmi for the first time this week. With the Chennai girl being the highest ranked in the Indian team, that meant Sania was the number two player today.

“I gambled. I hoped Sania would win and take it to the doubles. Unfortunately, Sania played well in patches. She did not capitalise on the chances she had in the first set.

“At this level, if you don’t take them early they won’t come in the end. Suchanan did not make any unforced errors,” the captain said.

Sania had two break points in the second game in the first set.

She had one more in the fourth and sixth each but failed to convert any of them.

The 17-year old Hyderabadi also missed out on five break point opportunities in the opening game of the second set.

Suchanan, fresh from a $25,000 win in Vietnam last week, was scratchy to begin with. But when the Indian committed a double fault to open the seventh game, the Thai girl sensed an opportunity and quickly shifted gears to break Sania and go up 4-3.

Suchanan’s forehands were smooth and she handled the crucial points with great calm.

The only phase when the Indian played some solid tennis was in the tenth game of the first set when she showed some consistency in her ground strokes to break back. But her fluctuating form dipped in the tie-break where the Thai raced to a 5-0 lead and took the set easily.