Thailand relegated to Group II in Fed Cup
Kingdom relegated to Fed Cup Asia/Oceania Zone Group 2 after narrow play-off loss
Despite a game effort, Thailand failed to keep their place in the Asia/Oceania Zone Group 1 next year after suffering a 2-1 loss at the hands of Indonesia in a Fed Cup play-off in Astana yesterday.
The Thai plan to rest their hopes solely on the expereinced duo of Peangtarn Plipuech and Nudnida Luangnam backfired as they lacked steam in the deciding doubles rubber after marathon singles battles yesterday.
In the opening singles rubber, world No.712 Nudnida started off in a great vein of form to claim the first set from Indonesia’s world No.630 Aldila Sutjiadi 6-3.
Aldila hit back in an alarming manner to blank Thailand’s No.2 player in the second.
Nudnida, however, did not lose her composure and put up a brave fight before conceding the third set 7-6, losing the tie-breaker 7-5.
The second singles rubber did not start in an ideal manner for the Thais as their No.1 player Peangtarn was edged 7-5 by Beatrice Gumulya.
Peangtarn, ranked No.297 in the world, then lived up to the expectations of the Thai camp by taking the next two sets 6-4, 6-4 to force a tie and push the match into the deciding doubles rubber.
Indonesia had the advantage of having their doubles specialist Jessy Rompies fresh to team up with Aldila as Thailand could not afford to take the risk of fielding an inexperienced player in the makeor-break battle.
Thailand had to send in their weary stars Peangtarn and Nudnida for the doubles duel and the outcome was a 6-2, 7-6(3) victory for Indonesia that earned them the right to stay in the top Asia/Oceania Zone group for another year.
Thailand, who were without their top-ranked star Luksika Kumkhum, will be relegated to Group 2 next year. World No.83 Luksika skipped the Fed Cup to participate in some WTA Tour events in the United States.