SEA Games: Malaysia no match for Thailand in tennis

Syed Agil fell to a 6-1, 6-0 loss to Danai Udomchoke in the semi-final tie against Thailand.

SINGAPORE: Malaysia were hit by a Thai-phoon in tennis.

The men’s and women’s teams had to settle for bronze medals after failing to get past Thailand in the semi-finals at the Kallang Squash and Tennis Centre.

The men, represented by the full Davis Cup team, were outclassed 3-0 by the Thais.

Mohd Assri Merzuki crashed to a 2-6, 1-6 loss to Kittiphong Wachiramanowong in the first tie before the Thais sealed victory when Danai Udomchoke defeated Syed Agil Syed Naguib 6-1, 6-0.

Ariez Elyas-Mohd Ashaari Zainal Abidin were also no match for the Ratiwatana brothers – Sanchai and Sonchat – and lost 6-1, 6-0.

The women were equally hapless, with the likes of Jawairiah Noordin, S. Theiviya and Yus Syazlin Nabila losing 3-0 to a Thai team powered by former world No. 19 Tamarine Tanasugarn.

Despite the thrashings, it was still an improvement for Malaysia, who returned empty-handed from the 2011 SEA Games – the last time tennis was included in the programme.