The main draw of the tenth annual Thailand Open at Nonthaburi’s Impact Arena is set to begin this afternoon after a weekend of qualifying matches that saw local Kittipong ‘Pong’ Wichiramanowong upset higher-ranked New Zealander Daniel King-Turner.
Pong took down the Kiwi contender in two straight sets (6-4, 6-4) yesterday in the second round of qualifiers and is facing Japan’s Hiroki Moriya this afternoon in a bid to enter the main draw for a fourth time.
Pong has never made it past the first round of the main draw, but came close in 2009 when he lost to American John Isner in three sets (3-6, 6-3, 6-7).
Pong is the only Thai player left in the qualifying draw.
Top seed and world number nine Janko Tipsarevic, from Serbia, has byes into the second round of the mains and told the Bangkok Post that he loves competing in Asia: “We played so many big tournaments including the Olympics. Coming to Asia, in a big way, calms me down. People are so relaxed and easy going in Asian countries. I just love to be here.”
Tipsarevic has entered the tournament ahead of France’s Richard Gasquet and third-seed Canadian Milos Raonic.
The mains begin later this afternoon with a doubles match, and later this evening a singles match which will see wild-card seed homeboy Peerakiat Siriluethaiwattana take on German Philipp Petzschner on Center Court.
The Thailand Open finals will take place on Sunday, September 20, with US$608,500 in prize money up for grabs. Last year’s winner was Britain’s Andy Murray, who has since taken his career to new heights earning an Olympic gold medal and winning the U.S. Open.
Thailand Open matches will be broadcast on Channel 3, and for scheduling and ticket purchase information, visit the Thailand Open website.
