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Young World
Ratiwatanas — set to win
LEKHA J. SHANKAR
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Sanchai and Sonchat made history at the Chennai Open recently when they clinched the doubles title.
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Photo: PTI
Twin win: Toast of their country.
There are not many twins who steal the limelight in the sports field, especially from Asia. But Thai twins Sanchai and Sonchat Ratiwatana created a huge stir, when they won the Doubles title against all odds, at the Chennai Open, recently.
They are the toast of their country. They won the first-ever ATP title for their homeland last year, when they clinched the Doubles crown, at the Thailand Open. This was something which even their most famous tennis star Paradorn Srichapan has not managed to do.
The Thai twins are proud that they have a career-best world ranking of 56 now, and are raring to go..
In an interview at Bangkok,they stated that they travelled on the tennis circuit for nearly 25 weeks in a year, but they never felt lonely, since they had each other for company.
Tough climb
What they missed was home-food and the presence of their
mentor-coach father, Chatchai Ratiwatana.
It was he who got them started on the game at the age of seven, gave up his career to coach them, and used all his savings to help them travel and play competitive tennis.
The youngsters admitted it was not easy . That’s why the prize money of their two ATP titles in Bangkok and Chennai, was of great value to them.
The Ratiwatana duo started on the circuit in 2000, and were soon ranked No. 20 in the Junior Doubles categore, and No. 100 in the Junior Singles category.They turned Pro in 2004.
“We’re very different from each other,” said Sanchai, the more articulate of the pair. “My brother’s aggressive on court, I’m cool, but we strike a good balance.”
Among their more memorable matches was the Finals at the Asian Games in Doha last year,when they lost narrowly to Indian pair Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathy!
Outside the tennis court, the lively duo said they enjoyed music, movies, and Harry Potter books.
Their dreams
Regarding the future, the Ratiwatana brothers have many dreams — win a Grand Slam title, grab the Gold for their country at the Olympic Games in Beijing, meet the No. 1 Doubles pair in the world. The last dream is the strongest, guess why? The No. 1 Doubles pair in the world, Bob and Mark Bryan, are also twins!
“The main thing is to work hard, remain consistent, and continue playing our best,” say Thailand’s brilliant tennis duo.
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