Tennis stars learn Thai cooking from Jay Fai

Tennis stars learn Thai cooking from Jay Fai

Halep, Ostapenko and Konta learn Thai cooking from Jay Fai, Pliskova arrives for exhibition meet

Jay Fai (left) teaches Jelena Ostapenko (centre) and Johanna Konta how to cook crab omelette in Hua Hin on Friday.
Jay Fai (left) teaches Jelena Ostapenko (centre) and Johanna Konta how to cook crab omelette in Hua Hin on Friday.

After firing aces at different arenas across the world the whole year round, stars Simona Halep of Romania, Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia and Britain's Johanna Konta on Friday learned how to serve up an omelette.

The three players participated in a Thai cooking class conducted by famous chef Jay Fai and later trained for the World Tennis Thailand Championship, which starts at True Arena in Hua Hin today.

Karolina Pliskova of Czech Republic, the fourth player in the tournament, missed all the fun as she arrived in Bangkok yesterday.

World No.1 Halep, seventh-ranked Ostapenko and No.9 Konta were taught recipes of crab omelette and tom yum kung by Jay Fai, or Supinya Jansuta, who was recently awarded one star status by Michelin Guide Bangkok, yesterday.

The atmosphere was full of excitement and fun. Later, the food prepared by the players was served to the media and fans present on the occasion.

Jay Fai said: "It is a pleasure for me to come here and teach Thai cooking to famous tennis players. I have never done it before.

"I like watching football and tennis, so when when I was invited, I said 'yes' immediately.

"It is a good way to promote Thai food to the world.

Karolina Pliskova speaks at a press conference on Friday night.

Konta said: "I am very happy to be in Thailand. I have been given a warm welcome by the Thai people.

"This isn't the first time that I have made Thai food. I love cooking, especially seafood.

"Last time, I made tom kha kai and this time I made crab omelette and tom yum kung."

Konta added: "I am here to play at my best, as this will be my tune-up for the next competition in Brisbane."

Halep said: "This is my first visit to Thailand and Hua Hin and I am feeling very excited. I had a chance to walk along the beach and I liked it very much because the beach here is very beautiful.

"I play Johanna Konta in my first game and I will try my best to win. I haven't played competitive tennis for more than two months since the World Tour Finals in Singapore, so this is my first tournament in a long time.

"It should be a good preparation for me before the Australian Open [next month]."

Ostapenko, the French Open winner, said: "Last night, I tasted some street food and I really liked the taste."

Meanwhile, world No.4 Pliskova said upon her arrival yesterday: "I am very happy to participate in the Hua Hin tournament.

"I have been to Pattaya once but that was many years ago.

"This will be my first trip to Hua Hin and a good preparation for me before the first Grand Slam [Australian Open] of the 2018 season.

"I hope to do well in this tournament."

The World Tennis Thailand Championship starts at 6.30pm with the opening match between Halep and Konta, followed by the game between Ostapenko and Pliskova.

The winners of today's matches will clash in the final tomorrow, while the losers will face off in the third-place play-off at the same venue.

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