Kittipong handed a tough job
[TENNIS] Captain Thanakorn Srichaphan is pinning his hopes on a team of young guns against mighty Japan as Thailand and the hosts square off today in their Davis Cup Zone in the Asia-Oceania Group One second round tie in Osaka today
The former national player said Weerapat Doakmaiklee and Kittipong Wachiramanowong are ready to put up a gutsy performance for an upset win which will propel the Kingdom to the World Group Play-off. "Although we are the underdogs, we won't rule out our chances. They must maximise their efforts to put the hosts under pressure,'' said Thanakorn whose side is looking somewhat fragile without Danai Udomchoke and Paradorn Srichaphan. Both stars withdrew because of injuries. Seventeen-year-old Kittipong, making his Cup debut, is to kick off the opening singles against Japan's No 1 Goe Soeda, ranked 223 rd in the world. Following with the rubber between Weerapat and Takao Suzuki, who brought both Paradorn and Danai down to their knees in the 2004 tie, where Japan won 4-1. Japan also nominated Suzuki and Satoshi Iwabuchi for tomorrow' s doubles against Sonchat and Sanchai Ratiwatana. The Sunday's reserved singles see Soeda versus Weerapat and Suzuki against Kittipong. Japanese No 2 Yuichi Sugita, despite his better ranking at 478 on the ATP, was not named to compete. "By sitting out Sugita, who has the least experience in the team, I presume that Japanese do not underestimate us as they field only strong players in the line-up,'' added the Thai skipper. The country's No 1 junior Kittipong vowed to give his all in the opening rubber with the serve-and-volleyer Suzuki, who holds all the aces on the fast carpet surface. "I'm up against a very tough opponent. Hopefully, I can give him a very close match,'' said Kittipong from Songkhla. Meanwhile, US Davis Cup hopes against rival Spain for the weekend's quarter-final clash have lifted slightly as injury victim Andy Roddick finally took to the indoor practise court. The American No 1 injured his left hamstring early in a Miami Masters quarter-final last week, withdrawing against Andy Murray. But with Rafael Nadal out of the line-up for the visitors as he rests a foot injury, the re-run of the 2004 final won by Spain at home would be badly compromised by an American defection.
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