Vania King of the United States , left, and Tamarine with their PTT Bangkok Open trophies at the Rama Gardens Hotel court yesterday.

Teenage sensation Vania King of the United States handed local star Tamarine Tanasugarn's a heart-breaking 2-6 6-4 6-4 defeat in the final of the US$200,000 PTT Bangkok Open yesterday.

Veteran Tamarine was playing in her first final at home in 10 years and almost 3,000 fans turned up at the Rama Gardens Hotel courts to cheer her on yesterday, but the young American proved to good.

"I was a bit disappointed because I was so close to winning," she said. "I didn't play bad but she played bravely and had a bit of luck.

"Only a few points made the difference,'' added Tamarine, who had tears in her eyes at the post-match interview.

"I was so touched to see so many fans come to support me and felt sad that I had a chance to win at home but didn't. But I already did a good job because it was not easy at all to be in the final."

The 17-year-old King, who only turned pro in July, won her first career title yesterday and has been billed as the next big star of American tennis.

"I was ecstatic to win my first title," she said. "I didn't know how to express my feelings,' added King, who returns home US$30,500 richer.

She also went on to win the doubles with Croatian Jelena Kostanic after defeating South African Natalie Gradin and Mariana Diaz-Oliva of Argentina 7-5 2-6 7-5. The two have been in three straight finals in Guangzhou, Tokyo and Bangkok.

Teenager King was calm and focused in yesterday's singles final, but still made numerous errors in the first set. And although she fell behind in the final set after some mistakes, she still stuck to her game plan of using attacking groundstrokes.

"Even though I was emotional inside, I didn't show it," she said "Even when she was up 4-3, I still had to fight hard and don't have any regrets.

"In the third set I didn't expect to win. Suddenly I broke her back to even the match,'' added the Californian, who has been working with Australian coach Ray Ruffels for a few months. King becomes the first American to win a title at 17 after Serena Williams won the 1999 US Open.

"I was never really a good junior player. Last year no one expected me to win a match, or to qualify [at the US Open, where she reached second round as qualifier].

"But you just can't let yourself be blown away by people who treat you badly,'' said the American, who hopes to be in the top 20 in the next two years.

Tamarine looked on the bright side of her loss - at least she progressed further than anyone expected, especially for a player who started the year ranked outside the top 100 and had hardly won a WTA match.

"My confidence is getting back and I want to return to the top 50 and then the top 30. It will be very nice if I can win a tour event soon,'' said Tamarine, who earned $16,400 as runner-up.

Her ranking will rise from No 97 into the 80s when the new rankings are updated today.

Showing a combination of experience and consistency, Tamarine wrapped up the first set and appeared on her way to victory. But the tide turned in the second set when King launched a series of raids from both sides with her booming groundstrokes.

Both players needed a 10-minute break after the second set and when play resumed, Tamarine broke from the start. The Thai held her break until at 4-3 and 40-15, when the situation changed.

King started whipping groundstrokes from all over the court and the Thai had no answers. Along with some lucky net cords and power play, the teenager reeled of two straight games to lead 5-4 as the frustrated Tamarine threw her racquet after losing the ninth game.

A few minutes later Tamarine found herself down 0-40 at triple match point and was left stranded as King blasted a forehand winner  to become the new Bangkok Open champion.

Lerpong Amsa-ngiam

The Nation