Nungnadda Wannasuk upsets Wing-Yau Venise Chan to enter semis – Bangkok ITF 2012
Local starlet, Nungnadda Wannasuk, stunned the second seed, Wing-Yau Venise Chan from China, in a three-set thriller at the Chang ITF Pro Circuit 2012 on Thursday. She hit back to formulate a 2-6, 7-6(3), 6-4 victory against the Chinese to power into the semi-finals at this outdoor hard court tournament held in Bangkok, Thailand.
Seeded fifth in this event, Wannasuk made a drastic entry at this ITF (International Tennis Federation) Women’s Circuit event taking place from 10th to 16th December. The players last fought each other at the New Delhi ITF event six years ago and after stealing this spotlight, Wannasuk not only avenged her loss but also took lead in the head-to-head series by 3-2 against the Chinese.
The world number 367 made quick in-roads at the Rama Garden Sport Complex. She reeled off the opening four games with two breaks of serve. The Chinese held her remaining serves with poise and eventually sealed the opener by winning six games to two. She brushed off the only breakpoint she came across and cashed both break chances to inch towards the fame.
Ranked 426th in the WTA (Women’s Tennis Association) Premier Rankings, Wannasuk re-focused in the following set. After breaking her opponent’s serve twice, she jumped to a 5-1 lead. Despite squandering her edge in the following game, the Thai took the set to a tie-breaker where she prevailed and eventually clicked the equaliser with a 7-6(3) win.
The 23-year-old moved up a gear in the deciding set. She smoothly held her entire serves and put her nose ahead. Wannasuk broke her rival’s serve in the last game and eventually clinched the decider with a 6-4 score line. She warded off all three breakpoints she faced and converted one out of three break opportunities to her advantage.
Up next for Wannasuk is the Ukrainian qualifier, Oleksandra Korashvili, who shocked Hong Kong’s Ho Ching Wu with a breadstick to set up this meeting. The qualifier recorded a 6-2, 6-1 victory against Wu in less than an hour and progressed at this event.
The Chinese contestant, Yafan Wang, will accompany Wannasuk in the following round. She dumped Japan’s Mana Ayukawa in straight set to advance.
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