S'hertogenbosch (Netherlands), June 18: Home hopes were flying high yesterday as Dutch trio Raemon Sluiter, Sjeng Schalken and John Van Lottum advanced to the last eight of the 380,000-dollar grass-court tournament here.
But Thai star Paradorn Srichaphan became the highest-seeded casualty of the day as the number two seed fell 7-5 6-4 to Sluiter. The 24-year-old Paradorn lost his serve in the eighth game of the first set, and was trailing 5-0 in the second before a late surge gave him four games in a row. His Dutch opponent, however, held firm to take the set 6-4 and advance to the final eight, where he meets Van Lottum, who eased past Czech Frantisek Cermak 6-4 6-3. Paradorn did not feel too downhearted about his latest reverse in a season that has failed to live up to his storming campaign last year.

"Actually I felt pretty good, I was hitting the ball well," said the Thai, who reached the third round of Wimbledon last year.

"I knew it would be a tough match and he played well today. He has a good grass court game and a good serve".

Bureau Report