Thais fight back to defeat Taiwan in Davis Cup tie

Taiwan's Lee Hsin-han receives medical attention during his Davis Cup match against Thailand's Sonchat Ratiwana in Taipei yesterday. PHOTO: LO PEI-DER, TAIPEI TIMES

Thailand beat Taiwan in both singles matches in their Davis Cup clash yesterday, coming from behind to win the tie 3-2.

Thailand's Danai Udomchoke, a gold medalist in last year's Asian Games in Doha, stormed past Liu Tai-wei in three sets 6-0, 6-1, 6-3, while teammate Sonchat Ratiwatana defeated Lee Hsin-han 7-6 (10-8), 6-4, 6-3.

Thailand, who had been trailing 2-1 in the Asia/Oceania Zone Group I tie, earned the right to take on Japan in the second round from April 4-8.

The matches in Taipei were overshadowed by a dispute between Taiwan's No.1 player Lu Yen-hsun, who was left out of the tie, and the Chinese Taipei Tennis Association.

Lu, ranked 90th in the world, was replaced by world number 1,010 Yi Chu-huan after demanding better protection of players' rights from the association.

Another top Taiwanese player, Wang Yeu-tzuoo, ranked 157th, was forced to withdraw from the matches due to injury.