Think of world-famous Thai sporting figures and perhaps only snooker star James Wattana springs to mind.

But Tamarine Tanasugarn, the number 31 seed in the women's singles at Wimbledon, aims to change that.

She admitted to BBC Sport Online that making the headlines as a female tennis player in Thailand is not easy.

"Tennis is getting bigger in Thailand but it isn't yet anywhere near boxing and soccer," she said.

"Parents are bringing their children more into tennis but it's not yet booming."

"I was very honoured by that. There are not many female sports stars in Thailand outside of weightlifting."

That is a sport that would not be ideally suited to Tanasugarn's 5ft 5ins and 63kg frame, but tennis is certainly proving to be her game.

Finalist

Tanasugarn recorded one of the best victories of her career on Saturday at Wimbledon as she knocked out the number six seed Amelie Mauresmo 6-4 6-4.

It put the Thailand star into the fourth round at SW19 for the fourth year running, having also been a finalist in Wimbledon's junior tournament back in 1995.

"I like grass, it is one of my favourite surfaces. I've been practicing on the fast hard courts in Thailand and that has allowed me to catch up quickly."