Paradorn Srichaphan carried off the title at the
Chennai Open as the Thai began his year in style.
His position as second seed in the draw for the Tata Open always looked
misleading, as Srichaphan's form over the second half of last season has led
many to predict he will move into the top 10 sooner rather than later.
With the Australian Open beginning in eight days' time, he crushed Karol
Kucera 6-3 6-1 in the final in Chennai and will fly to Melbourne full of
confidence for the season's first grand slam.
The title was Srichaphan's third on the tour in the last five months, following Long Island in August and Stockholm in October, and the first of his career in
Asia.
A runner-up last year to Guillermo Canas in Chennai, he went one better this
time and did not drop a set over the entire week.
Before Melbourne, he goes to Sydney where he is scheduled to face Scott Draper
in the first round of the adidas International.
"I have been working hard in the off-season, and after I lost the final here
last year, I really wanted to win in Chennai," said Srichaphan.
"In the beginning, it looked like it was going to be a long game, because
both of us were being really careful.
"But I started moving well, and was just trying to break him, and in the
second set I felt really comfortable, and I am happy to win here.
"Last year, it was my first ever final, so I was a little bit nervous.
"But now, this is my fourth or fifth final, so I am used to it now, and I
feel a lot more confident.
"Kucera is a great player, he reached the final, but I played better today
and won."
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