Courtesy : Bangkok Post
TOR CHITTINAND
Published on April 25, 2005

Thai players put up a good fight

Phuket _ Jelena Kostanic proved to be the star player as she led Croatia to a 3-2 victory over Thailand in the Fed Cup World Group II match at Patong Beach yesterday.

In yesterday's reverse singles the 49th-ranked Kostanic defeated Thai number one Tamarine Tanasugarn 6-3, 6-2 and later, with the teams tied at 2-2 she teamed up with Matea Mezak to win the decisive doubles against Tamarine and Napaporn Tongsalee 6-4, 6-2 .

It was a disappointing result for Thailand after Suchanan Viratprasert had given them hope with an excellent 6-3, 7-6(1) win in her reverse singles against Sanda Mamic.

The teams were tied 1-1 following the first day's matches and a good crowd showed up at the makeshift arena to see Tamarine take on Kostanic.

It was Tamarine who managed the first break of serve in the fifth game to make it 3-2 but Kostanic immediately broke back.

The Croatian player then took full command, going on to win the first set 6-3.

In the second set Kostanic broke Tamarine in the third game and after that never really looked like losing.

Tamarine began to make a lot of unforced errors as she fought to get back into the match but the Croatian player was too strong and eased to victory, winning the second set 6-2.

After that setback there was a lot of pressure on Thailand's number 2 Suchanan, but she proved to be up to the task.

Suchanan got off to a great start, breaking Mamic's opening service game. The Thai player found her rhythm quickly serving steadily and with testing groundshots and did not let her opponent settle down as she took the first set 6-3.

The second set was a much tighter affair.

After a brief interruption for rain the two fought it out to a tie-break.

If Suchanan was nervous she didn't look it as she raced away with the tie-break 7-1 to win much to the delight of the crowd.

"I played much better than yesterday," said a happy Suchanan. "The crowd support helped a lot too."

Suchanan's victory meant it all came down to the doubles.

There was very little in it in the opening set but it took just one service break in the ninth game to give Croatia the advantage and they went on to take the set 6-4.

In the second set the Croatian pair took control from the start and eased to a 6-2 win to take the Fed Cup victory.

Kostanic said she was delighted with the victory.

"It is always tough to play away from home and the Thai players performed well," she said. "It was a bit too hot for tennis but I would like to come back to Phuket for a holiday."

Croatia's team captain, Goran Prpic said: "We can now go home happy. I had been hoping the match would have been decided before the doubles but we will take the victory."

Tamarine was full of praise for Kostanic. "I tried to make her run all over the court, but she retrieved every ball. She just played very well."

The Thai star said the Croatians were a strong team and she was quite pleased with Thailand's performance.

"If we prepare properly I think we can keep our team in the World Group."

The Croatian win puts them in the World Group I playoff.

Thailand will play in a qualifier for the for the World Group II playoff.

The draw will be made on May 3rd.