asiek napisał:

Czy jego profil nie powinien się znaleźć dwa działy niżej? Od dwóch lat nie zagrał oficjalnego meczu ATP...

Wczoraj zagrał pierwszy mecz po powrocie. Wprawdzie deblowy, ale jest to ponoć przetarcie przed oficjalnym powrotem w singlu

http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis … turns.aspx

Ja przede wszystkim zapamiętam Paradorna z meczu przeciwko Fedowi w Bazylei, doskonale grał po prostu Taj, Roger w formie męczył się niemiłosiernie i wygrał ledwo ledwo.

Srichaphan nie wie kiedy i czy w ogóle wróci na korty. Taj ostatni raz zagrał w Miami w 2007 roku, a ostatni z 5 tytułów singlowych zdobył wiosną 2004 roku.

Thai Paradorn not in a hurry to resume career

Thai Paradorn not in a hurry to resume career With the third anniversary of his last appearance on an ATP court approaching next month, there's still no sign of life from Paradorn Srichaphan as his once high-flying career fades further away.

The one-time top Thai, now aged 30, who ranked inside the Top ten has not touched a racket seriously since Miami in 2007 and won the last of his five titles in 2004. The wrist injury which forced him from the game looks like it has made his exit permanent with each passing month.

Paradorn made a half-hearted comeback at the Thailand Open last September, teaming for a doubles loss with former Davis Cup teammate Danai Udomchoke.

It seems that the man still considered one of Asia's top sportsmen is too busy off court. "A lot of things happened. I got married. I have family now. A lot of stuff to take care of," he said.

Among those current diversions: the launch of a men's herbal supplement line and work on a Thai historical movie. "I'm not going to pressure myself," said Paradorn. "If I'm healthy and I feel great to be back on court, that's what my goal is."

http://www.tennistalk.com/en/news/20100 … ume_career

Paradorn: From Center Court to the Big Screen

In recent months there have been a few sightings of Thailand’s Paradorn Srichaphan, the first Asian-born Top 10 player. There has been the odd doubles exhibition, the opening of his Italian restaurant and the commercials for his herbal drink promising enhanced performance. Now Paradorn fans have something else to cheer about - his upcoming role as an action superstar.

Starring in his first movie, Bang Rajan II, Paradorn is lean, mean and more cut-up than ever. Sporting a mohawk haircut and a serious six pack, he plays Nai Mun, the silent but deadly good guy who protects his family and village from the invading Burmese army.

“I saw him the other day, and he looks great,” reports former Davis Cup teammate Danai Udomchoke. “He is really super-fit and a natural for this type of movie.”

“When the director called and told me which movie that he was interested in me acting in, I was shocked,” Paradorn told ATPWorldTour.com. “The first one (Bang Rajan) was a huge hit in Thailand and one of my favourite movies. He told me that I would have to be in great shape, but I had already been working in the gym a lot before he called, so it was no problem.”

Paradorn’s character is content to live a peaceful Zen-like life in the village with his pregnant wife and family until danger crosses the line. Now Paradorn swings into action, and just like he used to do on the tennis court, he lets loose with his ‘grip it and rip it’ style. Only this time it is with a bone carving long-blade slinging buckets of blood and not a tennis racquet smacking winners all over the court.

Displaying none of the good-natured, fun-loving persona that earned him the Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award in 2002 and 2003 and a legion of fans worldwide, Paradorn’s trademark ‘cat who just ate the canary grin’ has been replaced with a tightlipped tough-guy snarl.

“My character has strong family values: My wife is pregnant and I have to prepare the village for the oncoming war,” explains Paradorn. “Getting ready for a scene is a lot like preparing for a match.  You have to be in control and really focused, especially in the combat scenes where we used swords and knives and the choreography is really important or somebody gets hurt. But the hardest part is remembering the dialogue, because you cannot just read it, you have to feel it and express the emotions with gestures.

“My fellow actors and the producers say that I did really well. But I will wait on the reviews and if they are positive, I would definitely consider more acting in the future.”

“Paradorn has always loved playing tennis in front of people,” says Sanchai Ratiwatana.  “It is only natural that he becomes an actor. I cannot wait to see the movie. For sure Paradorn will be great.”

Bang Rajan II hits the Thai cinemas on 25 March.

http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis … creen.aspx

Paradorn oficjalnie ogłosił zakończenie sportowej kariery.

RETIREMENT TRIBUTE - From Tennis Courts to Movie Sets, Srichaphan Continues to Thrill

Out of action for almost three years, Thailand’s Paradorn Srichaphan announced his retirement from professional tennis this week. While it was a persistent wrist injury that had sidelined him, it was an awful motorcycle racing accident recently that broke both hands and severely injured a knee which dealt the coup de grace on one of tennis great ambassadors.

A former Top 10 player, Srichaphan’s rise to the top read like a fairy tale.  On the way to winning five ATP World Tour titles and a career-high South African Airways ATP Ranking of No. 9 (12 May 2003), Paradorn captured the hearts of millions and was the inspiration of the ‘Asian Invasion’ on the men’s and women’s tennis tours.

Srichaphan’s charismatic smile and ‘grip it and rip it’ slugfest style electrified fans while earning him a legion of followers worldwide. But it was in Asia, at the height of his career, where his popularity was so widespread that the press dubbed it, “Paradorn Fever”.

During that time billboards with his bare-chested image lined expressways, tennis racquet sales soared and politicians jockeyed for photo-ops with the young man nicknamed, ‘Ball’. Paradorn rose so high in status that he received a private royal audience with the King of Thailand, an honour usually reserved for heads of state. When Srichaphan took to the court, everyone from the noodle vendor to the prime minister tuned in. And after each match, diplomats, businessmen and rock stars queued to shake the hand of the young man that was filling stadiums and dominating the news all over Asia.

His native Thailand is known around the world as the ‘Land of Smiles’, and nobody personified that better than Paradorn Srichaphan. Recognising his ability to attract people, Thailand Tourism Authority named him as their Cultural Ambassador and the government granted him a red diplomatic passport. His easy going manner and friendly ways on the tennis court earned him the Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award in 2002 and 2003. And Time Magazine Asia featured him on the cover as an Asian Hero.

“Paradorn means so much to all of us,” claims Davis Cup teammate Sanchai Ratiwatana. “He is more than a big brother, he is a hero and he has showed us how to achieve our dreams.”

There are more testaments to his legacy. Thailand’s Noppawan Lertcheewakarn, the 2009 girl’s Wimbledon champion and World No. 1, credits Paradorn for opening the doors to Asians.

“Before Paradorn we were not sure if we were good enough,” says Lertcheewakarn. “But when he started winning so much, we knew that we (Asians) could follow his example.”

During his career, Srichaphan would reach 11 ATP World Tour finals, winning five titles and finish 2003 at a year-end best World No. 11. But it was the victory over Andre Agassi on Centre Court at Wimbledon in 2002 that propelled him to demi-god status in Asia. An Asian defeating one of the greatest players of the game on the hallowed court of the All England Lawn Tennis Club was a dream come true.

Even off the court, Paradorn remained in the spotlight, whether it was marrying a former Miss Universe, Natalie Glebova, racing motorbikes or opening restaurants, Paradorn’s star appeal never waned. Last year, a movie director came calling his name, and Paradorn accepted the role of an action hero in the Thai movie sequel, Bang Rajan II. Just like his days on the tennis court, Paradorn stole the show and a promising career as an actor is now in full swing.

Though his playing days are over, Paradorn remains involved in tennis as the Thai Davis Cup captain and occasional exhibition match.

They say in Thailand that Srichaphan was born to be on centre court, now it seems that he will continue to thrill the masses, except this time it is likely to be on centre stage.

http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis … ibute.aspx

Srichaphan Gets Into Racing Bikes

Former world No. 9 Paradorn Srichaphan announced earlier this week that he will try his hand at racing bikes now that his tennis career is over. Retiring from the professional tennis tour because of persistent wrist injuries, Srichaphan is now a racer on Elf Smart Sports Racing Team.

The flamboyant Thai player, who married Miss Universe and stared in a local movie last year, told the media that he’s happy to trade in his racket for racing gloves.

Srichaphan will continue to remain in tennis, and coach the Thai Davis Cup team while helping to develop future stars in his country.

http://tennisconnected.com/home/2010/07 … ing-bikes/