Noppowon all set, Phuket’s De Cesare outgunned at ITF tournament

PHUKET: Week two of the Phuket Chang ITF Women’s Pro Circuit tennis tournament opened today with six round one single’s matches and five in double’s competition at Thanyapura Sports and Leisure Club (TSLC).

Phuket’s Helen De Cesare had earned a wild card entry, but found herself drawn against number two seed Kurumi Nara of Japan. The 17-year-old De Cesare couldn’t keep pace with the Japanese, eventually losing 6-0, 6-1.

The only seeded player that failed to progress from round one was Yuliya Beygelzimer from Ukraine. The number eight seed had to retire after the fourth game of the second set with an injury, having already lost the first set 6-0 to Marta Sirotkina of Russia.

Claire Feuerstein, the number four seed from France, defeated Aiko Nakamura of Japan 6-3, 6-1 while Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium asserted her fifth seeding over Qiang Wang of China 6-3, 6-2.

Two other wild card entries from Thailand, Nicha Lertpitaksinchai and Tanaporn Thongsing faced each other with Nicha securing a 6-4, 6-2 victory over her compatriot.

Varunya Wongteanchai, also from Thailand failed in her bid to reach the second round losing after a second set tie-break 6-1, 7-6 to Misa Eguchi of Japan.

Thailand’s presence in the double’s event took a hammering when wild cards Kamonwan Buayam and Julaluck Sae-eung lost to number three seeds Wan-Ting Liu and Yi-Fan Xu of China 6-2, 6-4.

Peangtarn Plipuech and Nungnadda Wannasuk offered more resistance to the number two seeds Xinyun Han and Sheng-Nan Sun of China in losing 5-7, 7-5 (10-8).

Tomorrow’s draw has not done Thailand any favors with last weekend’s beaten finalist Noppowan Lertcheewakarn up against fellow countrywoman Nudnida Luangnam.

Winner of the first week’s tournament Dinah Pfizenmaier of Germany will look to exploit her clay technique against another Thai, Luksika Kumkhum around noon.

In doubles, the sisters Wongteanchai (Varunya and Varatchaya) are up against the Ukrainian pairing of Yuliya Beygelzimer and Irina Buryachok should Yuliya be passed fit to play.

Noppawan again takes to the courts later in the afternoon to join with Saisai Zheng of China as the number one seeds against Thailand’s Napatsakorn Sankaew and Tanaporn Thongsing.

Play begins at 10am at TSLC with last matches scheduled for 3pm.

— Neil Quail