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/2010/02/2nd-Week/Srichaphan-Big-Screen.aspx

My second favourite all-time player after Karl (Thomas Johansson). I would love to see this movie.

This guy vanished from the face of the earth after marrying that model.

He hasn't officially retired yet...Still was playing up until last year in doubles...still only 30...I would love to see him play again...He is bloody cut though...at the moment.