When Mananchaya Sawangkaew was four years old, she accompanied her father and sister to a tennis court in Sing Buri province and enjoyed watching them play. She even enjoyed helping them to pick up the balls and so began her love affair with the sport. “I was not focused enough then but I worked things out this week.”Mananchaya, or “Mai” as she is known by her family and friends, was in her first ITF Pro Circuit final but she did not hesitate to capitalise on her opportunity, despite wearing tape to protect an injured right knee and left ankle. I wanted to take a chance,” said one of the youngest Thai winners on the Pro Circuit in many years. Even when she faced three match points at 5-6 in the second set, she still believed she had a chance.

Source: The Nation Bangkok May 12, 2018 18:00 UTC