Noppawan Lertcheewakarn

Playing style

Lertcheewakarn is a counterpuncher with her two-handed backhand and forehand. She is intelligent on court and has a good strategy. Her game is lacking powerful strokes, but based on precise groundstrokes. Her main weakness is considered to be her serve, lacking of power, consistency and stability.

Lertcheewakarn has inspiration by Tamarine Tanasugarn, Monica Seles, Marion Bartoli, and Williams sisters.

Lertcheewakarn is currently coached by Chuck Kriese.

Junior career

In 2008, Lertcheewakarn was world No. 1 in ITF junior circuit, became the first Thai player to ever hold that position. In the same year, Lertcheewakarn won the ITF Girls World Champion.

Lertcheewakarn has reached 2 Grand Slam Girls' Singles finals, 2008 Wimbledon losing to Laura Robson and 2009 Wimbledon beating Kristina Mladenovic. She also reached 4 Grand Slam Girls' Doubles finals, won 2008 US Open with Sandra Roma, 2009 French Open with Elena Bogdan, 2009 Wimbledon with Sally Peers, but lost 2009 US Open partnering Elena Bogdan.

2006–2009

Lertcheewakarn started playing her first ITF Circuit events in August 2006.

Lertcheewakarn made her WTA Tour main draw debut in 2007 as a qualifier, defeating world No. 97 Melinda Czink of Hungary in straight sets in the final qualifying round, before losing to Aiko Nakamura in three sets in the first round.

In May 2008, Lertcheewakarn won her first pro title in singles at $25,000 Balikpapan, defeating the top seed Isha Lakhani of India in straight sets.

In 2009, Lertcheewakarn received a main draw wildcard to Pattaya Women's Open, lost early in a first round match against Shahar Pe'er, which lasted nearly 52 minutes with a score, 6–1, 6–0.

2010

She received a wild card to PTT Pattaya Open, but lost in the first round to Chanelle Scheepers, 7–6(9), 4–6, 4–6 in a two-hour-and-forty-minute match in which Lertcheewakarn had a 4–1 lead in the second set. She then received a wildcard to the Malaysian Open where she beat Ksenia Pervak in the first round in straight sets, making this her first WTA main draw win ever. At the US$50,000 Aegon Trophy in Nottingham, she advanced into the quarterfinal round before losing to Elena Baltacha in two straights sets. Lertcheewakarn received a wildcard entry to the Wimbledon Championships, where she was defeated by Andrea Hlaváčková in the first round 6–3 6–2. Lertcheewakarn ended the year inside top 200 in singles and doubles

2011

Lertcheewakarn qualified in Auckland but lost to Heather Watson in the first round, 6–1, 6–1. In 2011 Malaysian Open, Lertcheewakarn defeated Alberta Brianti, 6–4, 2–6, 6–2, she lost to a qualifier, Anne Kremer, in the second round. In double, Lertcheewakarn reached WTA double final partnering Jessica Moore, they lost to Dinara Safina and Galina Voskoboeva, 7–5, 2–6, 10–5. She lost in the first round of 2011 Baku Cup to Ksenia Pervak 3–6, 6–1, 7–5, having led 5–3 in the third set. At the 2011 US Open Lertcheewakarn qualified for her second Grand Slam main draw, defeating Zuzana Kučová, Ashley Weinhold and Kristýna Plíšková in three tough matches. In the first round, in just her second Grand Slam tournament she lost to Anastasiya Yakimova 0–6 6–4 3–6. Lertcheewakarn won 2011 Al Habtoor Tennis Challenge beat Bojana Jovanovski, Regina Kulikova, Simona Halep and Kristina Mladenovic en route. She also qualified in 2011 HP Open but lost to Samantha Stosur 6–3, 3–6, 7–5, she was two points away to score the victory. In 2011, Lertcheewakarn broke into top 100 in doubles and top 150 in singles.

2012

Lertcheewakarn reached the final in $50,000 Gifu but lost to Kimiko Date-Krumm in three sets. She qualified for Birmingham main draw, defeating Sesil Karatantcheva 7–6 (13–11), 6–4 en route. In the first round, she lost to Misaki Doi in three sets. In Stanford Classic Lertcheewakarn lost to Nicole Gibbs 6–4, 6–4 .