Srichaphan expects to be consistent in every match he plays. ©Gulf News |
Srichaphan told Gulf News before his opening round match against Dominik Hrbaty of Slovakia yesterday. "My tennis is not amateur. I am competing against world-class players and keeping my position in the top 10," he added.
In 2003, Asia's No.1 player compiled his most consistent season, winning two ATP titles in three finals to end the year at No.11.
In the bargain, Srichaphan also became the first Asian born player to rank in Top 10 during the year, reaching a career-high No.9 in May and spent the next 10 weeks in that position.
"I am happy with this position and with what I have achieved for Thailand and for the whole of Asia," Srichaphan beamed. "Not too many players have achieved what I have. And that's pretty satisfying."
Nicknamed 'Ball' in Thailand, Srichaphan started playing tennis when he was six with his father Chanachai, who quit his bank job to coach his son. The Srichaphan family is a tennis family – his two older brothers, Naratorn and Tanakorn, also play Davis Cup for Thailand. "I've learnt a lot from them all through these years," Srichaphan admitted.
His career took off after the South East Asia Games in Brunei in 1999 when he came home with three gold medals.
"That was long, long ago," he recalled. Srichaphan, who turns 25 this year, has set a realistic goal before him. Staying in the top 10 or 15 is definitely one of these.
"I am not expecting to win each and every tournament I participate in. I need to be consistent. It's not easy as you are out there playing 35 weeks of the year. It's tough, but I know I can do it," he said.
"My aim is to take it one by one and the main thing is to stay healthy," Srichaphan insisted. With a sound health backing him up, Srichaphan hoped to continue for at least another five to six years on the Tour.
"If the health is there, then I don't see myself stopping for the next five to six years," he said.
