Americans and Germans book in qualification round

Phuket - Germans Frederike Fischer and Julia Grossner and Americans Brittany Hochevar and Jenny Kropp booked their places in the qualification round of the Phuket Thailand Open with startling come-from-behind victories in the play-offs yesterday.

Fischer and Grossner triumphed in an uphill struggle against compatriots Rieke Brink-Abeler and Claudia Lehmann 19-21 21-15 15-9 in 47 minutes.

 Hochevar and Kropp, competing for the first time in the Swatch FIVB World Tour, surprised Brooke Hanson and Lisa Rutledge 8-21 21-18 15-9.

 The German and American pairings join 30 other teams in today's qualification round of the US$190,000 tournament. The round will determine the final eight spots for tomorrow's main draw, which will feature a 32-team |double-elimination schedule.

 "I think playing for the first-time internationally combined with a different ball and humidity really hurt our concentration," said Hochevar, 28. "Tomorrow will be just as difficult as we will be playing a lot of new teams."

 Thailand will have two teams in today's qualifiers, but as the host country will have Jarunee Sannok/Usa Tenpaksee, Kamoltip Kulna/Yupa Phokongploy and Julaluk Radarong/Manerat Udomchavee in the main draw.

 The Thai pairing battling it out in qualifying are Orradee Phupanee/Aunchalee Yunsuwan and Kijja Khantharak/Ariya Laoseangsa.