Luksika cruises into second round

Luksika cruises into second round

Thai hopeful will play second seed Kirilenko

PATTAYA : Rising Thai star Luksika Kumkhum stormed into the second round of the PTT Pattaya Open yesterday after an easy win over Australian Open doubles runner-up Casey Dellacqua.

Maria Kirilenko

Still high on confidence from reaching the second round in Melbourne in her debut Grand Slam appearance, 19-year-old Luksika, who received a wildcard to play in the tournament, proved too strong for the Australian world No.123, who is eight years her senior.

However, Luksika will face a much tougher assignment in the second round, where she will be up against world No.15 Maria Kirilenko.

The Russian needed almost two hours to overcome Uzbek qualifier Akgul Amanmuradova 6-3, 7-5 in her first-round match.

"Today, I didn't have any pressure," Luksika said. "As I said earlier, the Grand Slam is over and this is a new tournament. Everything has to start all over."

"I served much better today than at the Australian Open. This is my first time playing in Pattaya and I want to do well."

Luksika conceded she would have her work cut out against Kirilenko.

"I know that I am the underdog against Maria because she is the second seed," she said.

"Again, I have nothing to lose. I will just play my own game and without any pressure. We'll see what happens."

Meanwhile, top seed Ana Ivanovic of Serbia faced a nervous wait overnight after her match was postponed due to rain. Ivanovic trailed Japan's Ayumi Morita 3-6, 7-5, 1-2.

Other seeded players _ No.4 Sorana Cirstea, No.5 Sabine Lisicki and No.8 Heather Watson _ all won through to the second round convincingly.

Cirstea needed only 73 minutes to beat American qualifier Bethanie Mattek-Sands 6-1, 6-3.

"I am very happy with my first-round win today. I am also very pleased with my game," Cirstea said.

Lisicki was also in fine form, cruising past compatriot Tatjana Malek 6-2, 6-3.

"I definitely had a good win today," she said. "And I am very happy to be back in Pattaya."

Lisicki will play Alesandra Panova of Russia in the second round.

Britain's Watson had a much shorter work-out after Timea Babos retired when trailing 6-1, 3-0.

FIRST ROUND RESULTS

2-Maria Kirilenko (RUS) bt Akgul Amanmuradova (UZB) 6-3, 7-5; 4-Sorana Cirstea (ROU) bt Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA) 6-1, 6-3; Anastasija Sevastova (LAT) bt Misaki Doi (JPN) 6-4, 6-2; Anastasia Rodionova (AUS) bt Vania King (USA) 6-4; 6-4; 5-Sabine Lisicki (GER) bt Tatjana Malek (GER) 6-2, 6-3; Luksika Kumkhum (THA) bt Casey Dellacqua (AUS) 6-2, 6-2; 8-Heather Watson (GBR) bt Timea Babos (HUN) 6-1, 3-0 (ret)

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