Luksika takes centre stage in Korea

THAI No 1 Luksika Kumkhum faces one of the biggest matches of her career today after scoring a stunning win at the Korea Open in Incheon.
Luksika faces reigning French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko in the semi-finals of the $250,000 WTA  event after shocking fourth seed and world No 52 Sorana Cristea of Romania .
The 24-year-old world No 155 fought back from 0-3 down in the first set to reel off 11 straight games for a 6-3 5-0 lead. 
She dropped the next game but finally closed it out 6-3 6-1 in 65 minutes for her second semi-final appearance on the WTA Tour.
“After 0-3, I became more focused and relaxed. I ran down all her shots and went for winners while she started missing many,” said Luksika, whose only previous semi-final appearance was in Osaka three years ago.
The Chanthaburi-born player fell to 214 in the world in July this year but has rallied strongly since.
She returned to the top 200 by winning back-to-back US$25,000 events in Hua Hin and Nonthaburi in July and August and then won the singles gold at the SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur.
Her opponent, top seed and world No 10 Ostapenko, shocked the world with her maiden Major title win in June. 
The big-hitting Latvian yesterday ousted Veronica Cepede Royg of Paraguay 6-3 6-0 in the quarter-finals.
While today will be among the toughest tests of Luksika’s career, she does have one major scalp to her credit.
Back in 2014 Luksika, then ranked 87 in the world, caused a major upset when she beat Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova in the first round of the Australian Open.
And she only has positive thoughts about today’s game.
“She is a talented player who hits the ball so hard. I have to be very consistent and take the initiative. But I have come so far this week. There’s nothing to lose,” Luksika said.

Jelena Ostapenko (courtesy Korea Open)

For her part, Ostapenko says being one of the world’s top players will present its own challenge today.
“I'm a top 10 player now and players really have nothing to lose against me. They try to show their best because they have less pressure,” said the 20-year-old.
 “I'm the favourite to win this tournament so I have to prepare well and play my best.”
  Luksika is flying the Thai flag alone, following Varatchaya Wongteanchai’s defeat in the doubles.
 The World University Games gold medallist and her Australian partner Olivia Tjandramulia lost 6-4 6-4 to Nao Habino of Japan and Oksana Kalashnikova of Georgia.