A winning start for Zheng Saisai in Hua Hin

Fourth seed Zheng Saisai made a winning start on day one of main draw at the GSB Thailand Open presented by E@.

Zheng, currently ranked No.36 in the WTA rankings made a slow start on GSB Centre Court but fought back to clinch the first set in the tie-break 76(6).  From there on she found her groove and made short work of Serbia’s Natalija Kostic to take the second set and the match 76(6) 60 but gave her opponent credit for making it tough for her:

“The beginning of the match she played really well, you know it’s tough any tournament first round and I got into it slow but I gradually find a rhythm and start to not missing that much and played my game, then I came back and I’m pretty happy.”

“The start was pretty tight and you know the style, you don’t feel the rhythm, she slices one shot, she does lob one shot.  I didn’t like really feeling the ball that well but after I hit many slice and I start to feel the ball that’s when I start to turn it around.”

Switzerland’s nineteen-year-old Leonie Kung had a day to remember as she won her first WTA main draw match for the loss of only three games.  The qualifier defeated Thai wild card Patcharin Cheapchendej 60 63 to progress to the second round of a WTA main draw for the first time:

“It feels amazing to be able to win my first WTA main draw match today and I really worked hard for this and I’m really happy to be able to win it here in Thailand.”

Australia’s Storm Sanders was happy to have a more straightforward win today then her previous two three-set matches in qualifying.  She defeated fellow qualifier Ulrikke Eikeri from Norway 63 64 and said after the match:

“It was a good match, tough conditions, but it was good to see a lot of people out there supporting both players.  Having the two matches under my belt was really helpful but I was really happy to play just two sets today.  It was also a bit cooler, playing a bit later today and I was really clear with my game.  I’ve played a lot of matches out here already and had a lot of court time so I’m feeling good and looking forward to a tough match next round.”

Fellow Aussies Ellen Perez and Arina Rodionova did not fare as well as Sanders today both succumbing in tough matches, Perez to China’s Xiaodi You 76(4) 62 and Rodionova to Japan’s Nao Hibino, seeded No.8 76(5) 75.

There was good news for home fans to end the day as Thai lucky loser Peangtarn Plipuech caused an upset defeating France’s Chloe Paquet 76(3) 36 64.