Thai No 1 Luksika Kumkhum hopes to

Thai No 1 Luksika Kumkhum hopes to repeat the form she displayed in the Australian swing series last year as she plays her first warm-up match in the Sydney International this weekend.

The Chanthaburi-born player had sent a signal to the world that she is the future of Thai tennis by reaching the Australian Open second round after coming through the qualifying rounds. Only Thai legend Tamarine Tanasugarn had reached a second round or better in a Grand Slam event.

Luksika went on to reach the quarter-finals in Kuala Lumpur last February which was by far her best run in a WTA event.

"My goal for the year is to defend points and then try climbing up the rankings. I did well this time last year and I have a lot of work to do in the next several weeks," said Luksika who broke into the top 100 last December and became only the second Thai tennis player to be in the top 100 after veteran Tamarine.

"Frankly I'm a bit under pressure to defend a lot of points. But at the same time it makes me even more determined.

"I'm quite confident of my form but I need to be more consistent in my performance," said Luksika, who is in Sydney this week for the qualifying competition. Last week in the Shenzhen Open qualifiers, she lost in the second round to Germany's Anna-Lena Friedsam.

Luksika, the lone Thai player in Sydney, will be joined by her coach only at the Australian Open. Nopawan Lertcheewakarn, the other Thai hope, will take part in the Australian Open qualifying round this year.

Luksika is new to travelling alone and had to spend the new year away from her family. She admitted that it was a bit tough and she felt homesick.

"I was sleeping in the plane when the new year started. I haven't celebrated the new year countdown for many years but I couldn't help feeling lonely sometimes," she said.