Host Thailand, led by its top player Tamarine Tanasugarn, defeated Hong Kong 3-0 earlier on Wednesday at the start of the round robins at the 2008 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas Asia/Oceania Zone Group I event. Meanwhile, India and Chinese Taipei suffered unexpected opening day setbacks that could well cost them a place in the playoffs. HK is slated to face the Taiwanese in a Group B match first thing Thursday.

On opening day of the A/O Zone Group I event in Christchurch last April, a Thai team devoid of Tamarine Tanasugarn still beat Hong Kong 3-0. However, those present would relate a complete different story, as the Thais actually trailed in all three rubbers to the point where a couple of points here and there in favor of Hong Kong would have rendered a complete turnaround in the outcome.

To their credit, Montinee Tangphong came from behind to beat Zhang Ling at the two spot, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, while Napaporn Tongsalee also trailed Venise Chan in various stages of that match at the one spot before winning it, 7-6(4), 6-4. Nungnadda Wannasuk then combined with Tongsalee to beat Lam Po Kuen & Tong Ka Po, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5, in a doubles rubber that neither side was willing to give up.

This time round, however, with Tanasugarn leading the way plus the advantage of playing at home, there were no such widespread anxieties amongst the Thai camp. Nevertheless, debutante Jessica Yang, though beaten, 6-4, 7-5, by Nudnida Luangnam (WTA 334) at No. 2 singles, was able to keep the scores close enough to show that she could actually hold her own against a player of this calibre. However, missed opportunities at critical moments again proved costly in the end.

Tamarine Tanasugarn (WTA 108) then followed up with a business-like, 6-3, 6-1, victory over Zhang Ling (411) at the one spot to clinch the tie. Zhang Ling did have a slight window of opportunity when she held a break point in the fourth game. However, she missed an easy second serve return to let the Thai No. 1 off the hook. Tanasugarn proceeded to serve two aces to hold that game and then went on to break Zhang Ling twice more to grab the first set, 6-3.

Riding with the momentum, the Thai veteran broke again at the beginning of the second set to go up 2-0. Although Zhang Ling managed to break right back in the next game, she ended up serving three double faults in the fourth game to trail 3-1. That was all the impetus Tanasugarn needed as she duly took the final three games to register an unassailable 2-0 lead for her team.

Suchanun Viratprasert & Napaporn Tongsalee then completed the 3-0 score line by beating Zhang Ling & Lam Po Kuen in the doubles, 7-5, 6-4.

In the other Group B match on Wednesday, Chinese Taipei, boasting two players in the WTA's Top-100, was surprised by Uzbekistan, as Iroda Tulyaganova (WTA 315) defied form and rank to beat Hsieh Su-Wei (95) in three sets, 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-3, who was fresh off of a round of 16 performance at the Australian Open just last week.

Then at number one singles, Akgul Amanmuradova (97) yielded just two games against Chan Yung-Jan (66) to win, 6-0, 6-2, to put her team in the driver's seat for this Group. In order for Taiwan to top the group, they need not only to win the rest of their matches, but they must also rely on Uzbekistan losing one of theirs to have any hopes of making it to the World Group II Playoffs.

Last year, Taiwan went undefeated in all Group I matches, including the final against Thailand, to advance to the World Group II Playoffs where they lost 3-2 to Croatia.

In Group A, with Sania Mirza physically present in Bangkok but for some unknown reason not involved in yesterday's match, India was shocked by Indonesia, 2-1, as Sandy Gumulya & Ayu Fani Damayanti combined to beat Sunitha Rao & Shikha Uberoi of India, in the deciding doubles, 6-7(7), 6-1, 6-3.

Although Alicia Molik had to retire in her match against opposing No. 1 Marina Erakovic, world doubles No. 8 Rennae Stubbs teamed up with debutante Casey Dellacqua, to win the decisive point against Erakovic and Leanne Baker, 7-5, 6-2, to give top-seeded Australia a 2-1 win over New Zealand.

Results
Fed Cup by BNP Paribas 2008
Asia/Oceania Zone Group I
LTAT National Tennis Development Centre
Bangkok, Thailand

Group B (Round Robins)

Thailand defeated Hong Kong   3 - 0
R-1 Nudnida Luangnam (THA) d. Yang Zi-Jun (HKG) 6-4 7-5
R-2 Tamarine Tanasugarn (THA) d. Zhang Ling (HKG) 6-3 6-1
R-3 Suchanun Viratprasert/Napaporn Tongsalee (THA) d. Zhang Ling/Lam Po Kuen (HKG) 7-5 6-4