A series of early round exits with no major upsets to her credit didn’t help her profile, and it seemed she would never come to be regarded as a future star.

Then last year she started sending signals that her attitude had changed by taking world No 167 Anastasia Rodionova of Russia to three sets in the first round of the WTA Volvo Women’s Open in Pattaya.

Other Thais her age might have bowed out in straight sets in the face of such a powerful opponent, but the 16-year-old from Petchburi fought hard to find herself just two games away from a surprise victory when leading 4-1 in the deciding set.

And although she eventually went down 7-5 2-6 4-6, she played the match of her life. The good news for Thailand was that a new and flamboyant talent had arrived on the scene.

Pichittra, whose nickname is “Mam”, caused everyone to stop and take a good look at the engaging teenager whose main weapons are a big-swinging forehand and backhand. She is capable of blasting winners that her opponents can do nothing about.

Pichittra has produced many eye-catching results since the start of the season, making it into the semi-finals in all six tournaments she has entered and snaring one trophy in Chandigarh, India. This solid performance has propelled her to No 33 in the world junior rankings after having kicked off the year outside the top 100.

From an unknown also-ran of a couple of years ago, Pichittra has suddenly joined the league of junior stars such as Monthinee Tangphong and Thassha Vitayaviroj. It all happened after she crashed out in lacklustre fashion in two tournaments in Indonesia last year.

“I felt really bad about losing in two first rounds in a row, especially the second one in which I lost 3-6 0-6 to Liza Andriyani [of Indonesia]. My dad had paid a lot of money for the trip but I didn’t play well. I just couldn’t let things like this happen,’’ said Pichittra, who is coached by her father Samruan, a Samut Prakan Treasury Department official.

But the real driving force behind her new attitude is her father. Samruan told her that he would devote every baht he had to help her pursue her career and asked her to do her best.

“How could I let my dad down for his devotion? It is such an inspiration for me to improve myself because it will affect my future,’’ said Pichittra who has a remarkable 23–5 win-loss record since January.

The youngster returned from Indonesia a new person. No more pleas to her dad for short training sessions and more relaxation. Instead it has been longer morning jogging and gym sessions and a better diet which has helped her to lose six kilos.

The new, improved Pichittra battled her way to her first WTA main draw in the Volvo Women’s Open last November, which was a rare occasion for a Thai player as they normally do not survive the qualifying competition. Pichittra showed no fear against the experienced Rodionova, pounding back heavy backhand groundstrokes. She could well have ended the match a surprise winner but the Russian showed the benefit of her experience and took control of the match when it came to the crunch.

“I was very sad to lose that match because I came so close to winning. But that taught me a lesson that I must be very focussed in matches like that because even when falling behind 1-4, a pro never gives up and keeps fighting to the end.” A few weeks later, she debut at 820 in the world rankings.

She extended her impressive run by upsetting the country’s No 4 player Monthinee and went on to beat long-standing rival Nudnida Luangnam to claim her first TATP title in December to end the year on a high note. “It was such a nice way to finish the year, especially beating Monthinee because she was a top 20 junior player,” she said.

Pichittra’s early 2004 schedule has been concentrated on the junior circuit in the hope of cracking the top 20 by the end of the year. Her other plans include making it to the main draw of the three remaining junior Grand Slams. She plans to take part in only a few ITF tournaments because of a restriction which prevents under 18 year olds from playing over 10 events.

Is she ready to make the jump to the pro tour? Unquestionably she longs to follow in the footsteps of Tamarine Tanasugarn and Paradorn Srichaphan. But, “I have to be more consistent, more focussed in close matches and work more on my defensive game.”

If her tennis dreams don’t materialise, Pichittra has a “Plan B”. Like plenty of young girls, Pichittra dreams of becoming a flight attendant. “Air hostesses look gorgeous in their uniforms. I want to be like them,’’ she said.