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Published on November 28, 2004
Courtesy : The NATION, Lerpong Amsa-ngiam

Paradorn finally gets a win at home

Local star Paradorn Srichaphan finally ended his winless run in his own exhibition series and on the way settled a score with German Nicholas Kiefer as the Paradorn Super Tour Tennis Exhibition rolled on at the Laguna Beach Resort in Phuket yesterday.

The Thai looked more determined than he did in his previous match in Pattaya, where he lost to the world No 21 in straight sets. In yesterday’s match he rallied back from a slow start to win the friendly 6-3 7-5 in front of 700 fans.

It was Paradorn’s first win in this special exhibition series after losing six straight matches – five in 2003 and one in Pattaya on Thursday.

“I had more time to practise and that’s why I played better today. Actually, both of us played better than in Pattaya,’’ said Paradorn, who had been below par in the Pattaya match which he lost 7-6 (7-4) 6-3.

Former world No 4 Kiefer also took the match seriously, but he was inconsistent and had a problem with the greasy artificial surface.

“I was up a break in the first set and had many chances which I let slip away. I also played well in the second set, but Paradorn played good on the important points,’’ said the 27-year-old German, who like Paradorn gave the fans a wai after the match.

Paradorn started sluggishly by serving a double fault and netted an ill-timed drop shot to lose the third game and trail 3-1 in the first set. But he finally woke up to take the next five games in a row.

The world No 27 blasted a forehand winner to level at 3-3 and broke again to go 5-3 up as the bearded German applied an ineffective drop shot. Paradorn then fired off two aces to set up a triple set point and landed the opener due to a backhand error from his rival.

Although the second set went with serve, it was the German who struggled, yelling and shaking his head in frustration. However, there were some less serious moments – when Paradorn was about to hit an easy smash, the German distracted his opponent with a shout, which worked as the Thai buried the easy shot in the net.

The crucial stage came when Paradorn shipped a forehand cross-court winner to break and lead 6-5. He missed the first match point but converted the second after the German returned serve to the net.

Due to unusual evening rain, the mixed doubles between Tamarine Tanasugarn and Paradorn and Kiefer and Anna Chakvetadze of Russia was postponed to Sunday.