Nungnadda and Yi to Battle for Title in Khon Kaen

  Nungnadda Wannasuk shook off a mid-match hiccup to subdue the inspired Jessy Rompies of Indonesia and reached the final of the US$10,000 SAT-PTT ITF Women's Circuit at the Srichaphan Tennis Academy in Khon Kaen yesterday.

  The teenager was up a set and led 4-2 in the second when jitters got the better out of her which saw her drop the set 4-6 and fell 1-3 behind in the decider. But she gritted her teeth to reel off five straight games to walk away as the winner following a 6-4 4-6 6-3 score line.

  "I was up 4-2 and then she made several good returns and attacked my serves. But even I was 1-3 down, I didn't think that I was losing. I knew I could turn the situation around,'' said the 17-year-old from Nakhon Ratchasima who had a much easier time beating the opponent 6-4 6-0 in Indonesia back in May.

  "She has big forehands and served well at the end of the second set. After I was a break down in the third, I tried to keep the ball in play and she started missing,'' added Nungnadda in quest for her first home title after having three ITF trophies under her belt.

  "I will try not to think about it too much or otherwise I will feel stressed. I will go into the final thinking it's just another match,'' said Nungnadda who will battle it out for the title with Taiwanese fourth-seeded Yi Chen.

   Yi, ranked 400 in the world, halted the run of Uzbek Vlada Ekshibarova, the first circuit's triumphant, 6-3 7-5 in the other semi-final. The scorching heat and exhaustion from playing nine matches in two weeks took its toll on the Uzbek.

   Nungnadda and Yi will square off for the first time in today's final. The Thai brimmed with confidence she could handle this last opponent and collect her fourth ITF trophy.

"She's the kind of player that relies on shot direction. I believe I stand a chance against her,'' said the highly determined girl.

Lerpong Amsa-ngiam

The Nation