Thailand make good start in Asia Cup tennis

Thailand made a flawless start to their campaign, as their men's and women's teams scored 2-1 victories over China and India respectively in the $90,000 ATF Asia Cup tennis tournament in Delhi on Tuesday.

Suchanan Viratprasert and Tongsalee Napaporn hardly wasted any time in despatching the Indians in straight sets to put Thailand 2-0 ahead, before Rushmi Chakravarthy and Sai Jayalakshmi won the dead doubles rubber to reduce the margin to 2-1 in the women's event.

The men's event saw China take a 1-0 lead after winning the first match, when Yu Zhag outclassed Attapol Rittiwattanapong 6-1, 6-2.

But Thailand rallied brilliantly and won the second singles and the doubles tie to grab the opening day's honours at the DLTA courts.

The big-serving Manisha failed to match the powerful Tongsalee despite taking a 2-0 lead in the first set. The Indian started promisingly, breaking the Thai's serve, and then held her own in the next. However, her joy was shortlived. The Thai No. 2 forced Manisha on the backfoot, and as the Indian committed several unforced errors, Tongsalee went on to dominate the set. She broke Manisha in the fourth, sixth and eighth games to pocket the first set at 6-3.

In the second, Manisha tried to stage a comeback but the Thai woman did not give an inch once the players had traded breaks early.

The Indian dropped her serve in the seventh and Tongsalee wrapped the duel, breaking Manisha in the ninth game for a 6-3, 6-3 verdict in an hour and nine minutes.

With India down 0-1, it was left to country's No. 1 player Sai Jayalakshmi to salvage some pride, but she too came a cropper.

Up against Thai number one Suchanan Viratprasert, Sai had very little to offer. The Indian's serve hardly bothered Suchanan and her placements were also erratic as she dropped her serves twice to lose the first set 6-3.

The former national champion, carrying Indian hopes in the absence of top woman Nirupama Vaidyanathan, struggled to match the power of Suchanan, who went on to take the set and match at 6-2.

Sai however combined with national hardcourt champion Rushmi Chakravarthy to win a consolation tie for India. The pair defeated Orawan Lamangthong and Tongsalee Napaporn 6-2, 6-4 in just over an hour.

Though the doubles win was immaterial in the context, it could come handy for India if there is a three-way contest for the final top two spots. China is the other team in the competition.

In the opening match of the men's event, Thailand came from 0-1 down to shock the Chinese men.

Thai No. 2 Attapol lost of Zhag 1-6, 2-6 in an hour and 10 minutes, but Danai Udomchoke lifted Thai spirits with a 6-4, 2-0 win over Ben-Qiang Zhu, the Chinese retiring after injuring his ankle.

The deciding doubles encounter saw the Thailand duo of Supparat Chukawan and Udomchoke rattle the Chinese pair of Yu Zhang and Yu Wang to win 6-4, 6-1 in just over an hour.