The scars were still fresh. The heartbreak still echoed around the stands. But when the final ball was struck at the National Tennis Development Center on Friday, Thailand had rewritten its own story at the 33rd edition of the SEA Games — trading early despair for a triumphant, gold-laced finale.
After stumbling through two painful team-final defeats to arch rivals Indonesia earlier in the week, the host nation roared back in style, clinching three of seven gold medals to close the tennis competition on a resounding high.
The tone of redemption was set early in the day with an all-Thai men’s singles final — a clash of the Kingdom’s finest. World No. 354 Maximus Jones faced off against compatriot Kasidit Samrej, ranked No. 418, in a duel that symbolised both the present and future of Thai tennis.
True to his top billing, Maximus weathered a brief second-set wobble before asserting his authority to prevail 6-1, 2-6, 6-2.
Maximus Jones
With that victory, he became Thailand’s first men’s singles gold medalist in a decade, following Warit Sornbutnark’s triumph at the 2015 Games in Singapore.
The occasion also marked the first all-Thai men’s singles final since 1995, when Vorapol Thongkamchoo defeated Thanakorn Srichaphan in Chiang Mai.
“This win means a lot to me — as a Thai player and for my family,” said the Thai-Australian Maximus, emotion evident in his voice.
“After the team event, I played well each day and came out on top. I’m really proud of myself.”
The gold was not his only prize.
A day earlier, Maximus had already struck gold in the men’s doubles, teaming up with Pruchya Isaro to edge Wishaya Trongcharoenchaikul and Pawit Sornlaksup in a thrilling super tiebreak, 7-5, 3-6, 10-6.
Pruchya Isaro and Maximus Jones
Friday’s golden glow continued into the mixed doubles, where Pruchya and Peangtarn Plipuech delivered a commanding performance, sweeping aside Pawit and Patcharin Cheapchandej 6-1, 6-2 in another all-Thai showdown.
“Honestly, I expected three golds,” Pruchya admitted with a smile. “But two golds aren’t bad for my third SEA Games. This is a big confidence boost before the Australian Open.”
The 28-year-old is set to make his Grand Slam debut in January alongside his doubles partner Niki Kalyanda Poonacha.
For Peangtarn, the mixed doubles triumph was sweet redemption. Earlier in the day, she and Mananchaya Sawangkaew had fallen short in the women’s doubles final, outplayed by the experienced Indonesian pair of Janice Tjen and Aldila Sutjiadi, who claimed the title 6-2, 6-1.
Thailand’s golden finish was all the more poignant given the anguish earlier in the week. The men’s team final loss to Indonesia — a 1-2 defeat despite Thailand boasting two top 400 singles players and a top 200 doubles specialist — stunned a crowd of nearly 1,000 and left the host nation reeling.
Pruchya Isaro and Peangtarn Plipuech
The women’s team suffered the same fate, deepening the sense of disappointment inside the packed venue.
Elsewhere, the women’s singles final showcased regional excellence as world No. 51 Alexandra Eala overwhelmed Mananchaya 6-1, 6-2, securing the Philippines’ first women’s singles gold in 26 years.
In the end, Thailand closed the tournament with three golds, seven silvers and one bronze — one gold short of target, but rich in resolve. The Lawn Tennis Association of Thailand will reward the effort with three million baht, one million for each golden triumph.
They may have started in a crumble, but Thailand finished standing tall — racquets raised, pride restored, and redemption complete.
