Thailand's world No.124 Luksika Kumkhum had an easy passage into the last-16 stage of the EA Hua Hin Championship at True Arena in Hua Hin last night.
Luksika, the highest-ranked Thai in the WTA singles, was in a fine touch as she defeated world No.159 Fanny Stollar of Hungary 6-1, 6-4 in her opening match.
Earlier, world No.298 Varatchaya Wongteanchai won a three-set marathon against China's Gao Xinyu which lasted more than three hours.
Varatchaya, who received a wildcard into the main draw, played in an impressive fashion in the opening set but it all came down to the tie-breaker, which she won 7-6 (7) to gain an edge over her Chinese opponent.
Gao came back strong in the second set which once again needed a tie-breaker to end the deadlock and this time it was the Chinese who emerged as a 7-6 (7) winner to level the match at one-set apiece.
Varatchaya moved up a gear in the deciding set of the thriller as she raced to a 5-1 lead before holding on to her serve in the eighth game to wrap up the set 6-2 and progress to the next round.
The Thai next faces third-seeded Chinese Duan Yingying, who yesterday defeated qualifier Emina Bektas of the United States 6-1, 6-1.
In other matches yesterday, Peantarn Plipuech, who is ranked No.126, could not make it to the next round, losing 6-4, 6-2 to Austria's Barbara Haas.
Another Thai wildcard player, Chompoothip Jadakate, ranked No.950, could only manage to pinch three games before losing to Romania's Ana Bogdan 6-1, 6-2.
Former world No.7 Belinda Bencic of Switzerland needed less than an hour to march into the next round.
Bencic defeated Giuliana Olmos of Mexico 6-2, 6-1 and will next meet Russian Ksenia Lykina in the last 16 round.
Today, matches start at 3pm at the same venue.