get_recommended return array(0) Bangkok Post - Kingdom relegated after fighting play-off defeat to Latvia at home
Kingdom relegated after fighting play-off defeat to Latvia at home
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Kingdom relegated after fighting play-off defeat to Latvia at home

brave effort: Prachya Isaro, left, and Thantub Suksomrarn in action against Ernests Gulbis and Robert Strombachs of Latvia in the doubles match.
brave effort: Prachya Isaro, left, and Thantub Suksomrarn in action against Ernests Gulbis and Robert Strombachs of Latvia in the doubles match.

Thailand have been relegated to the Davis Cup World Group 3 after losing 3-2 to Latvia in the World Group 2 play-off tie at the National Tennis Development Centre, Muang Thong Thani, yesterday.

Thailand had a mountain to climb after both Kasidit Samrej and Yuttana Charoenphon lost their opening singles matches to Robert Strombachs and Ernests Gulbis on Friday.

Prachya Isaro and Thantub Suksomrarn revived Thailand's hopes after rallying to beat former world No.10 Gulbis and Strombachs in a three-set tussle.

The Thai duo found themselves in arrears after losing the first set 6-4 but they did not give in. Prachya and Thantub took the hard-fought second second 7-5 before blanking their Latvian opponents in the third to reduce the gap to 2-1.

However Gulbis made up for the doubles defeat with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 victory against Kasidit in the first reverse singles to seal the third point and the tie for Latvia.

In the second reverse singles, Yuttana beat Reinis Kupfers 6-2, 6-4.

Latvia will remain in World Group 2 while Thailand will be relegated to World Group 3.

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