Three days after the ATP rankings were updated and lifted Danai to the second highest ranking in Asia at No 97, the Thai had no answers to the razor-sharp groundstokes of the 27th-seeded Russian, who hit a total of 50 winners to rake the match 6-1 6-4 6-2 in less than 90 minutes.

Danai, who was automatically accepted in the main draw for the first time in a Grand Slam tournament, failed to reach the same heights as last year when he made it to round two as a qualifier.

"There was nothing I could do. He hit winners all the time. He played so fast that I could not read the direction of his shots," said Danai, who has lost all three matches he has played against the Russian. Two weeks ago at Queens they played a closer match and the Thai went down in three sets.

"Last time he hit less powerful shots and missed more. Today everything went right for him. He even returned a smash from me," added Danai, who is expected to slip out of the top 100 rankings in the next two weeks.

"My ranking should drop to about 108, but that's okay. At least I was once ranked second in Asia," said the Thai No 2.

Danai was scheduled to fly home last night and will spend a week or two off before resuming his tour at the ATP level in North America. His last stop will be the US Open where he might have to qualify unless he can return to the top 100.

Tursunov, who conquered Tim Henman in round two last year, fired down rocket serves and ripped off winners from all over the court to complete the first set in only 18 minutes.

Danai cut down on his errors in the second set and tried to counter-punch with his heavyweight opponent, but was not successful. Tursunov returned serves like a machine to keep the Thai on the defence all the time and blasted a backhand winner down the line to break at 3-2. An ace from the Russian earned him the second set and a 2-0 lead in the match.

Things still did not improve for Danai in the third set as the Russian dictated the entire affair. He broke twice to underline his supremacy over the Thai.

Due to the first round exits of Paradorn Srichaphan and Danai, Thailand's last hope is Tamarine Tanasugarn, who was scheduled to play her second round match against Japan's Shinobu Asagoe last night.

Tamarine has a clear draw now with two seeds, Maria Kirilenko of Russia and Anna-Lena Groenefeld of Germany, already crashing out.

Lerpong Amsa-ngiam

The Nation

Wimbledon