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Published on November 24, 2004
Courtesy : The NATION, Lerpong Amsa-ngiam

[TENNIS] Nicholas Kiefer of Germany will have to forget his friendship with local star Paradorn Srichaphan as the two will meet in the Paradorn Super Tour series this week.

After being asked several times to come to Thailand by his good friend Paradorn, the former world No 4 is finally in town. But he’s not here for a holiday and will take part in the exhibition series which will start in Pattaya tomorrow and then move to Phuket over the weekend.

“I haven’t played for four weeks with a wrist injury. So after I was invited to play here by Paradorn, I said okay,’’ said the world No 21, who turned down the invitation previously because he was not familiar with Thailand.

“People here are nice and the food is great. I was only used to European food before, but now I have to say Thai food is my favourite,” added the 27-year-old Kiefer, who has been to many attractions including the crocodile farm, temples and night-clubs since arriving last Thursday.

In their previous encounters, the German leads with three wins to one loss. And despite the fact that it is just a friendly exhibition, Kiefer made it clear that he would take it as seriously as any match on the tour.

“My trainer and I have worked hard together every day, even though I’m here to relax. I’ll take the match seriously,’’ said the former protege of German great Boris Becker.

Also playing is Russia’s rising star Anna Chakvetadze, the world No 84 from Moscow who is very excited to be in Thailand.

“Everything is okay here except the weather, which is very hot,’’ said the teenager, who is scheduled to play local star Tamarine Tanasugarn. But the match she is looking forward to is the mixed doubles in Phuket where she will team up with Kiefer to play Tamarine and Paradorn.

“I’m so nervous about teaming up with Nicholas because he is a huge star. Besides, it will be my first time playing mixed doubles,’’ said Chakvetadze.

Doubles specialist Rick Leach is another star of the tour. The veteran is not a familiar face for local fans, but the fact that he has 45 doubles trophies in his collection proves he will be worth watching.

“I was here last year for the Thailand Open, but I don’t think I made a big impression,’’ said the American.

Paradorn won all his matches in 2002, but finished the 2003 season winless. He hopes for a better year ahead.

“I start training hard in Dec-ember for the new season,’’ said the Thai. The exhibition tour starts tomorrow at the Royal Cliff Beach Resort in Pattaya with matches between Paradorn and Kiefer and Tamarine and Chakvetadze.

Phuket Laguna will be the next stop over the weekend. Saturday’s programme sees Paradorn play Kiefer, followed by the mixed doubles with Paradorn-Tamarine and Kiefer-Chakvetadze.

On Sunday Tamarine and Chakvetadze will compete in singles before the men’s doubles between Paradorn and brother Narathorn Srichaphan against Kiefer and Leach.

All the stars will gather today at the Bangkok Patana School for a clinic which will feature an unorthodox friendly game between Tamarine and Paradorn. Young fans will have the opportunity to take on the tennis pros in both singles and doubles as well.