Nudnida on hot form to grab Auckland berth

Nudnida

Thai No 3 Nudnida Luangnam stunned second seeded Greta Arn of Hungary 6-4 3-6 6-3 for a main-draw berth in the US$235,000 ASB Classic in Auckland yesterday.

The Sukhothai-born world No 211 was the only remaining Thai hope in the WTA event after No 2 Luksika Kumkhum fell to Latvia's Anastasija Sevastova 4-6 7-6 (7-5) 4-6.

"I was quite lucky today especially on crucial points. She had problems with the wind and the sun," said the 25-year-old, who dispatched her rival in two hours and 26 minutes.

"She served and hit big but the sun helped me a lot. Whenever she was facing the sun, it really affected her vision. I had to run down a lot of balls but she would miss in the end,'' added Nudnida, a product of the Pyramid Academy.

"This is a big surprise because initially I was only on the list of alternates. We have been training really hard in the off season." The Thai will play world No 61 Oprandi Romia of Switzerland today in the first round.

"I have never seen her play but everyone in the main draw is tough. I have to maintain my good form," said Nudnida, who upset American eighth seed Irina Falconi in the first round of qualifying and beat Frenchwoman Irena Pavlovic in the second round.

World No 201 Luksika was disappointed at failing to make the main draw.

"I lost my first service game at the start of the third set and was behind from then on. It was hard to break her because she has good serves. Too bad I didn't make it to the main draw."

Nudnida, Luksika and Tamarine Tanasugarn are the three Thais targeting next week's Australian Open qualifying. While the first two are using the Auckland event as their warm-up, Thai No 1 Tammy has opted to save her energy for the year's first major. She will leave for Melbourne on Thursday.

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Article source: http://www.thethailandlinks.com/2013/01/01/nudnida-on-hot-form-to-grab-auckland-berth/