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Thailand qualified for the finals of the Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Zone Group 2 after a comfortable 4-1 win over Indonesia at Muang Thong Thani yesterday.
The Thai team will meet South Korea in the final in September.
Thailand went into yesterday’s action with a 2-1 lead with Thai number one Danai Udomchoke keen to win the point required for his team to progress.
Udomchoke’s opponent Christopher Rungkat began well and moved into a 3-1 lead, but Udomchoke came back strongly to win the first set 6-4.
From that point Udomchoke took strong command, sailing through the next two sets 6-2, 6-1 to clinch the match for Thailand.
In the dead rubber Thailand’s Kittipong Wachiramanowong emerged victorious after Elbert Sie withdrew after two tight sets, suffering from heatstroke. The Indonesian won the first set 7-6 (4) but Wachiramanowong rallied to take the second set 7-5.
However, with the match being played in blistering heat, Sie was unable to carry on, suffering from heatstroke.
Thai team captain Thanakorn Srichaphan said he was happy with the final scoreline. “Udomchoke and the twins played to their normal standards while Wachiramanowong gained a lot of useful experience,” he said.
LTAT secretary general, Saran Rangkasiri said he was happy with the result, but warned it would be a much tougher fixture against South Korea. “The Koreans will probably opt for a clay court which our players are not used to,” he said. “But I anticipate a close match.”
Sonchat and Sanchai Ratiwatana gave Thailand a crucial 2-1 lead against Indonesia after winning the doubles match of their Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Zone Group 2 semi-final tie at National Tennis Development Centre, Muang Thong Thani yesterday.
The twin brothers outclassed Indonesian pair, Aditya Hari Sasongko and David Agung Susanto 6-2, 6-2, 6-2.
The two nations were tied 1-1 after splitting first day’s opening singles on Friday.
Christopher Rungkat picked up the first point for Indonesia when he beat Kittipong Wachiramanowong 6-2, 7-6 (3), 6-0 but Danai Udomchoke pulled Thailand level with a 6-1, 6-1, 6-0 win over Elbert Sie.
Sonchat and Sanchai Ratiwatana were quick off the block and raced to a 5-2 lead in the opening set before wrapping it up at 6-2.
The Indonesians looked to have staged a mini-comeback at the start of the second set with a break of serve to take a 2-0 lead.
The twins, however, came back strongly and won six successive games to take the set 6-2.
The visitors found it hard to cope with Ratiwatanas’ crisp passing shots and excellent net play and the Thais went on to win the third set by the same scoreline.
Thailand captain, Thanakorn Srichaphan, was pleased with the twins’ victory. “We got the result we needed. Sonchat and Sanchai were expected to beat the Indonesians because they were a new pairing and were less experienced than us,” he said.
Srichaphan added he’s confident Thailand would go through. “Tomorrow I think we should get a point from Udomchoke in the first reverse singles match. Wachiramanowong should also be able to win his match. So I think we will get the right result and qualify for the next stage.”
Today, Udomchoke will take on Rungkat while Wachiramanowong will meet Sie.
If Thailand beat Indonesia, they will reach the Group 2 final where they will face the winners of the tie between South Korea and Pakistan.
