• 
• 

Published on November 29, 2007

Nonthaburi

Danai survived a series of explosive serves from the 437th-ranked Kuwaiti to pick up a win in the Yellow Group competition with a scoreline 6-4 7-6 (7-2) in 63 minutes.

However, it was a case of missed chances for compatriot Weerapat Doakmaiklee, who lost to Japanese third seed Gouichi Motomura 5-7 3-6 in one hour and 22 minutes in the Red Group.

Serving for the set at 5-4, the Thai No 3 committed a couple of errors on two set points before misjudging a lob that landed right on the baseline to allow the Japanese veteran to draw level at 5-5. From then on, it was a one-way traffic for Motomura.

Earlier, Danai underlined his supremacy over the Kuwaiti whom he had just beaten in the second round of the Malaysian Open last week.

"I was a bit slow and was not energetic enough because it was my first match. So I just tried to hold my serves because if I dropped them, it would have been very tough to break his as he served really big,'' said Danai, who admitted he was occasionally disturbed by a handful of noisy Kuwaiti supporters.

Danai will face a race against time when he takes on India's Vivek Shokeen today at 1pm on his request as he is committed to attend the wedding of close friend Paradorn Srichaphan and Natalie Glebova in the evening.

In the yellow group, Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan overcame Vivek Shokeen of India 6-4 6-1, while second seed Im Kyu-tae of South Korea beat Ashutosh Singh of India 6-2 6-4 in the Red Group.

 Lerpong Amsa-ngiam

 The Nation