UDOMCHOKE Danai.......(PIK)
Residence : Bangkok, Thailand
Date of Birth : 11 August 1981
Birthplace : Bangkok, Thailand
Height : 173 cm
Weight : 62 kg
Plays : Right-handed
Status : Turned Pro. 1997
I am a fan of Danai or better knon in Thailand as Pik the Thai number one. For a long time he was number 2 to Paradorn, and now he has quietly emerged as Thai number 1 after a long timew in Paradorn's shadow. The highlight was winning the gold medal at the last Asian Games in Doha in 2006.
Since then his ranking plummeted to below 200 but thankfully now he has started rising again.
According to the news item in Bangkok Post today, he got a wild card for Bangkok Open starting September 21:
Danai given wildcard
TOR CHITTINAND
Thailand's number one Danai Udomchoke has received a wildcard for the US$576,000 ATP Thailand Open at Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani from September 21-28. Danai has steadily climbed up the ATP rankings after dropping out of the top 200 earlier this year. He is currently ranked 155th.
Pik is a hard worker and he is now working to improve his serve and concentration, as he said in a statement on his website:
29.08.2008
have to improve my serve..
i have to improve my serve for for thailand open because if i still serve like last 2 months then i cant win first round for thailand open for sure so from now on i have to practice hard on my serve and have to talk with the dortor for my concentration also..so i hope it will be better for thailand open kup..http://www.danaiudomchoke.net/en/index.asp
Actually, he entered the monkhood as an obligation. All Thai young men after age of 20 are required to enter the monastery as monks for a period of time. It's a tradition. they can stay for 1 week or 3 months but they must do it. So, it wasn't for rehab, but as part of Thai cultural practices. Paradorn also did it.I had a thread in GM about it, let me find it and I will post the link here.
I've seen Danai play against ferrero and nalbandian at the australian-if im correct he did beat ferrero in 5 sets.remember him to be a good player-fast and consistent baseliner.But in my opinion he needs to improve serve as rightly pointed out and play a little more intelligently like using sliced backhands or coming more towards the net.That is because he is a little smallish in size if you all dont mind.
I've seen Danai play against ferrero and nalbandian at the australian-if im correct he did beat ferrero in 5 sets.remember him to be a good player-fast and consistent baseliner.But in my opinion he needs to improve serve as rightly pointed out and play a little more intelligently like using sliced backhands or coming more towards the net.That is because he is a little smallish in size if you all dont mind.
You are right,he is smallish compared to farang players. He acknowledged on his website his need to improve serve. I like his dedication to hard work. As I pointed out he finished his obligatory stay as a monk a few months ago, hopefully, that will improve his concentration.
Pik got a wc for Bangkok Open but now he is in Djokovic's half of the draw and he has a tough opener with Nicolas Mahut
WC-UDOMCHOKE, Danai THA vs MAHUT, Nicolas FRA
Pik lost to Mahut in 3 sets At least he fought well. Anyway I hope he has better result in doubles. He is partnering Kittipong Watchiramanowong, good luck to them.
Danai is in the qualifying round in Tokyo. Today he won his first match vs Mitsuhashi 62 75 :bigclap:
Chok dee na Pik and hope he makes it to the main draw.
Danai is in the main draw of the tokyo open having made it through qualifying.Now will play J.Levine. This is tough opener for Pik, as Levine is very tough. I remember he gave a hard time to Rafa in Toronto or cincy, I am not sure which of those two.
Chok dee na Pik!
Seoul Rd 2. Finally, Pik finished the match which was postponed since yesterday and won in straight sets
UDOMCHOKE, Danai THA d. Q-SLANAR, Martin AUT 62 62
:bigclap: :yippee:
now he has to play his round 3 match tonight.UDOMCHOKE, Danai THA vs CRUCIAT, Adrian ROU
yes, it will be tough but I hope Danai makes it.
Ah Xun final :yippee:
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