Thailand put up a brave effort but still went down 2-1 to India in their second Fed Cup Asia/Oceania Zone Group 1 tie in Astana yesterday.
The defeat means Thailand, who lost their first Pool A tie 3-0 to hosts Kazakhstan on Wednesday, need to beat the third-place finishers in Pool B to continue their stay in the group for another year.
Thailand started off well as Nudnida Luangnam pulled off a major surprise by getting the better of India No.2 Thandi Karman Kaur, who is ranked No.211 in the world, in a three-set battle.
Thailand No.2 Nudnida played aggressively and her effort carried her to a 3-0 lead in the opening set.
Kaur hit back after Nudnida had pocketed the first set 6-2 and the Indian's onslaught was enough to rattle the Thai player.
Nudnida had trouble in regaining her lost concentration and the Indian took advantage of it to win the second set 6-3 and level the rubber 1-1.
In the third set, Nudnida, spotted more than 500 places below Kaur in the WTA rankings, recovered and kept pace with her opponent before claiming the decider 6-3 for a 2-1 win in the opening rubber.
The Indians were not ready to give in and their No.1 player Ankita Raina, ranked No.165 in the world, rose to the occasion in the second singles rubber against Thailand No.1 Peangtarn Plipuech.
World No.297 Peangtarn looked confident at the start as she made Raina fight for every point before claiming a 5-4 edge. Raina forced her way back into the set and a 6-6 tie pushed the tussle into the tie-breaker which the Thai won 7-3.
Raina moved up a gear in the second set for a 6-2 win before wrapping up the third set 6-4 to put India back on level terms.
Raina and Kaur then teamed up for the deciding doubles rubber and were able to fight off a spirited challenge by the Thai pair of Peangtarn and Nudnida 6-4, 6-7 (6/8), 7-5.
