Udomchoke upsets Lee to clinch Asiad tennis gold
December 15, 2006
DOHA: Thailand’s Danai Udomchoke upset Asian number one Lee Hyung Taik to clinch gold in the Asian Games men’s singles tennis final on Thursday and score the biggest win of his career.
Udomchoke said winning for Thailand meant more to him than any victory in his short career, and he was incredibly proud of his performance.
“I am so happy because I was representing Thailand and that’s special, it means a lot,” the 25-year-old said. “I was hoping for bronze and I’m a little surprised because he is the Asian number one and I played him only a few weeks ago and lost. But I stuck to my game plan and it worked,” added the Thai who has risen steadily up the rankings this year to 104 in the world.
Top seed Lee revealed he had caught a cold after his semifinal match which affected his performance.
Lee, ranked 49 in the world, had been hot favourite to win here after the defending champion Paradorn Srichaphan of Thailand pulled out during his first match with a wrist injury.
Both players struggled to hold serve early with Lee fighting through four deuces to draw level at 3-3, before Udomchoke finally scored the solitary break at 6-5 with some clever net play to take the first set.
The Thai broke again to love in the fourth game of the second, with a scorching passing shot as Lee’s frustration mounted, kicking a ball into the crowd.
The 30-year-old South Korean then tried to fight back but the Thai held steady to serve out the match.
Udomchoke said winning for Thailand meant more to him than any victory in his short career, and he was incredibly proud of his performance.
“I am so happy because I was representing Thailand and that’s special, it means a lot,” the 25-year-old said. “I was hoping for bronze and I’m a little surprised because he is the Asian number one and I played him only a few weeks ago and lost. But I stuck to my game plan and it worked,” added the Thai who has risen steadily up the rankings this year to 104 in the world.
Top seed Lee revealed he had caught a cold after his semifinal match which affected his performance.
Lee, ranked 49 in the world, had been hot favourite to win here after the defending champion Paradorn Srichaphan of Thailand pulled out during his first match with a wrist injury.
Both players struggled to hold serve early with Lee fighting through four deuces to draw level at 3-3, before Udomchoke finally scored the solitary break at 6-5 with some clever net play to take the first set.
The Thai broke again to love in the fourth game of the second, with a scorching passing shot as Lee’s frustration mounted, kicking a ball into the crowd.
The 30-year-old South Korean then tried to fight back but the Thai held steady to serve out the match.
