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Published on July 20, 2007

This year's PTT Bangkok Open promises a special treat for fans with an exciting field of entrants that includes reigning Wimbledon champion Venus Williams and Serbian world No 3 Jelena Jankovic.

Jankovic has emerged as one of the hottest players on the women's circuit, having claimed four titles - Auckland, Charleston, Rome and Birmingham - this season. She, along with compatriot Ana Ivanovic, made it to the semi-finals at Roland Garros last month.

The 22-year-old reached the singles fourth round at Wimbledon last month before finishing the prestigious championship with a big bang by holding the mixed doubles trophy with Briton Jamie Murray.

Her combination of counter-punching and attack has elevated her to the elite group of world No 1 Justine Henin and Major champions like Maria Sharapova and Amelie Mauresmo.

Williams, currently at 17 in the world, started the year out of the top 40, but two titles in Memphis and then Wimbledon proved to the critics that it is too soon to write her off.

The power, the grunt and the hunger for glory are still there in her game. She made her statement at the All England Club, hammering Sharapova, Svetlana Kuznetsova, Ivanovic and Marion Bartoli in straight sets on her passage to the crown.

The winner of six Grand Slam trophies, four of which came on grass, made her first stop in Thailand three years ago when she played Sharapova in an exhibition in Chiang Mai. She fell in love with Thai tradition and culture, and plans to arrive here several days before the tournament to receive a spa treatment, after being persuaded by her sister Serena.

Also committed to joining the US$200,000 tournament, which will be held at the Lawn Tennis National Training Centre from October 4 to 15, is Israeli Shahar Peer, whose three career titles include the 2006 Pattaya Open.

"This year will be the greatest tournament ever as three of the top twenty in the women's rankings have confirmed to join the competition," said Suwat Liptapanlop, president of the Lawn Tennis Association of Thailand.

The tournament was given a major boost last year when local star Tamarine Tanasugarn surprisingly reached the final before losing to American Vania King in three tight sets.

Meanwhile in Khon Kaen, Thai sensation Nungnadda Wannasuk outclassed South Korean Kim Sun-jung in the US$10,000 SAT-PTT ITF Women's Circuit Tournament quarter-finals to step towards her initial home trophy yesterday.

Nungnadda established a 5-2 lead in both sets but allowed her opponent to briefly fight back before advancing with a 6-3 6-4 victory to become the last Thai remaining in the competition.

"She tried to play forehand inside out all the time because her backhand is the weaker side. My game plan is to attack her backhand to keep her out of the comfort zone,'' said Nungnadda who has lined up a semi-final clash with Indonesian qualifier Jessy Rompies, a 1-6 6-0 6-2 winner over South Korean Lee Cho-won.

Her countrywoman Varanya Vijuksanaboon, a qualifier, fell to fourth-seeded Chen Yi of Taiwan, 5-7 3-6. Chen faces last week's champion Vlada Ekshibarova of Uzbekistan, who beat Venise Wing-Yau Chan of Hong Kong 6-2 6-1.

Ratiwatanas advance

nSonchat and Sanchai Ratiwatana made their second straight ATP quarter-finals after they downed fellow countryman Danai Udomchoke and South Korean Lee Hyung-taik 6-4 6-1 in the second round of the US$500,000 Countrywide Classic in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

The "Amazing Twins", who last week reached their first ever ATP semi-final in Newport, are now inside the world doubles top 100 and will climb higher when the new rankings are updated next week.

They will play fourth-seeded Jordan Kerr of Australia and American Jim Thomas who edged out American Paul Goldstein and Robert Kendrick 7-5 0-6 10-7.

Lerpong Amsa-ngiam

The Nation