Published on July 02, 2005
Courtesy : The Nation
By Lerpong Amsa-ngiam  

Thailand favourites to beat Slovak

[TENNIS] Thailand should be too strong for the Slovak Republic when the two nations meet next weekend for the Fed Cup World Group II play-offs at Bangkok University’s Rangsit Campus.

While Thailand will field four top players, including Tamarine Tanasugarn and Suchanan Viratprasert, the Slovaks will be without key players like

Daniela Hantuchova and Martina Sucha, 28 and 81 in the world.

Instead, No 139 Henrieta Nagyova and Lubomira Kurhajcova, No 167, and Magdalena Rybarikova and Dominika Cibulkova who are outside the top 500, will battle for the right to stay in World Group II next year.

Despite the unfamiliarity of the Slovak team, Thai captain Vittaya Samrej has high hopes of clearing this hurdle after narrowly losing to Croatia 2-3 in Phuket in April.

“Admittedly I have never seen the Slovak players but I believe in the ability of my players. But I’ll get some tips from Tammy on how to prepare for them as she has played some of their players before,’’ said Vittaya, a former Davis Cup player.

Tamarine and Nagyova, a former top 20 player, have met six times and are split 3-3. The Thai lost to Kurhajcova in their only meeting last year in Quebec.

“I’m confident we have the potential to win the tie as our players are fit and vastly improved. But we will not underestimate Slovakia because they can play singles and doubles well,’’ said Tamarine who hopes for a big crowd to cheer the team on.

The tie kicks off on July 9 at 11am and can be seen on Channel 11 and UBC SuperSport. Sunday’s programme starts one hour earlier. The first country to win three matches will remain in the group with the losing team being relegated to the regional qualifying zone.