PATTAYA : Russia's Vera Zvonareva yesterday beat Thailand's Peangtarn Plipuech 6-3, 6-2 in the first round of the PTT Pattaya Open.
Vera Zvonareva
Zvonareva, who is bidding for her third title in Pattaya, had few problems against the young Thai.
The Russian is making a comeback following a 18-month lay-off with an upper respiratory illness and a right shoulder injury.
A wildcard in the WTA event, Zvonareva, who won in Pattaya in 2009 and 2010, is playing in her only third tournament since Wimbledon 2012.
Earlier this month, the Russian, who required surgery on her shoulder, lost opening-round matches in Shenzhen and at the Australian Open.
Thailand's Nicha Lertpitaksinchai, another wildcard, advanced to the second round after beating fellow qualifier Aleksandra Krunic from Croatia 6-3, 6-3.
"I am very happy to reach the second round of a WAT tournament for the first time," Nicha said. "I was nervous at the beginning but gradually gained confidence."
She will next meet Vania King or Elena Vesnina.
Thailand's top player Luksika Kumkhum failed at the first hurdle with a 6-4, 6-4 loss to Germany's Julia Goerges.
World No.88 Luksika, who stunned 2011 Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova in the first round of the Australian Open, admitted that it was not her day.
"I am disappointed to be knocked out in the first round," Luksika said. "She played very well and I made a lot of unforced errors."
World No.102 Goerges said she played aggressively and the tactics worked.
"Luksika is a good play and should have a bright future," she said.
There was bad news for the organisers as German top seed Sabine Lisicki and second seed Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia withdrew from the tournament.
Lisicki, last year's runner-up, said her shoulder troubled her during her win against Donna Vekic of Croatia in the first round on Monday.
"It was pretty obvious I wasn't able to serve in the second and third sets," she said. "I love the tournament so much, especially after last year playing in the finals. I wanted to do better this year. I tried everything and won the match yesterday and was hoping it could get better overnight, but unfortunately it didn't.
"Now the first plan is for me to get healthy again. I will see my doctors at home and make plans from there."
Lisicki's second-round opponent, Czech Andrea Hlavackova, now advances to the quarter-finals.
Kuznetsova was forced to withdraw by a left hip injury.
RESULTS
First round: Vera Zvonareva (RUS) bt Peangtarn Plipuech (THA) 6-3, 6-2; Nicha Lertpitaksinchai (THA) bt Aleksandra Krunic (CRO) 6-3, 6-3; Julia Goerges (GER) bt Luksika Kumkhum (THA) 6-4, 6-4; Alexandra Dulgheru (ROU) bt Yulia Putintseva (KAZ) 6-1, 6-7(6), 6-4
Luksika Kumkhum
Nicha Lertpitaksinchai