South Africa ends Thailand's dream run

Thailand's magnificent giant-killing run came to an end Saturday when South Africa won its first Hopman Cup.

In the first match, Amanda Coetzer of South Africa outlasted Tamarine Tanasugarn of Thailand 3-6, 6-4, 6-4. Tamarine won the first set easily, and looked to be home free yet again when up 3-0 in the second set. But inexplicably, she relaxed, and stopped mixing up her game, and the experienced Coetzer took full advantage to win 6 of the next 7 games.

When Tamarine won the first game of the final set, it looked like perhaps she was back on track - but her tiredness after yesterday's three-setter against Barbara Schett of Austria overcame her, and at 1-5 down it looked like the writing was on the wall. But instead, she found new resolve to break Coetzer twice to bring the match back to 4-5, only to finally lose on her own serve.

Afterwards, Coetzer said that the match had been her hardest of the tournament, and that Tamarine's excellent play had her back against up the wall.

In the second match, Wayne Ferreira of South Africa came up against Paradorn Srichaphan of Thailand in a match of experience versus youth - and in the end experience made the difference as Ferreira won 7-6(13-11), 6-3.

The first set saw each player blasting serves past the other, in particular Ferreira who was in fine form. Each broke the other's serve once, and in the tiebreak, the longest of the tournament, neither player would give in until Paradorn finally netted a backhand on Ferreira's serve to drop the set 6-7.

The second set saw Ferreira running Paradorn all over the court, with Paradorn producing some amazing saves and at one point taking a short break on the courtside signboard after Ferreira ran him ragged. Ferreira finally served out the match and ended what had been South Arica's drought - having partnered Coetzer six times in previous Hopman Cups - but also spoiling the end of the fairy-tale Thailand had weaved to this point.

Both teams received a standing ovation at the end of the tournament, where South Africa earned praise for its perseverance and loyal support of the Hopman Cup, while Thailand won plaudits for showcasing Asia's young and upcoming talent and indeed conjuring up an exciting and entertaining run from out of nowhere.

But today was South Africa's turn to shine - indeed, both teams are expected back for next year's Hopman Cup, and perhaps next year will be Thailand's turn. But Tamarine and Paradorn will certainly return to Thailand as national heroes and will hopefully continue to inspire the young tennis players of Thailand and around the world.