Kittipong Wachiramanowong aims to spearhead Thailand to a win over visiting Vietnam when he returns to Davis Cup for the first time in three years for the Zone Asia/Oceania Qualifying Group II second round on Friday in Nonthaburi.
Kittipong expects a tough fight from the regional neighbour, who feature 2015 junior Wimbledon doubles champion Ly Hoang Nam, but believes his side will prevail.
"Vietnam beat Indonesia 3-2 in the previous round, which means they cannot be underestimated. Apart from Nam, Vietnam's No 2 [Minh Tuan Pham] is also strong, as he trains in Taiwan," said the 27-year-old Hat Yai native.
"But I've beaten them before so I'm quite confident going into the tie. Besides we have a stronger doubles team, which should give us the edge this weekend," added Kittipong, who beat Nam last year in an ITF event in Bangkok and Pham in the 2015 SEA Games. Thailand are training under captain Vittaya Samrej at the National Tennis Development Centre, which is also the venue for the Vietnam tie.
Kittipong will be joined by Pruchya Isarow in the singles while the Ratiwatana brothers, Sonchat and Sanchai, have been handed doubles duty. "Vittaya makes us practise on the court for at least four hours per session to ensure we're fit enough to last five sets. It's been a long time since I played this format and I hope I can adjust to long matches," Kittipong said.
Despite being regional neighbours, Thailand and Vietnam have never met before in Davis Cup as the latter has only just reached Group II. Thailand won their first-round clash against Sri Lanka 3-2 in March. The victor of this round will play the winner between Taiwan and the Philippines in September's final round for promotion to Group I next year. - The Nation