Lim to skip ITF Futures tourney due to dengue fever
Alberto Lim Jr. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
The country’s fast-rising tennis star Alberto Lim Jr. won’t see action in the 34th Philippine Columbian Association (PCA) Open-Cebuana Lhuillier ITF Men’s Futures 2 after being stricken with dengue fever.
The 16-year-old made it as a wild card entry after beating national team mainstays to rule the PCA Open men’s title two weeks ago. He also failed to see action in the PSC-Philta Futures 1 last week.
READ: Lim makes history, dethrones Tierro in PCA Open final
It was a big setback for the Tarlac-native who was confined to St. Luke’s Medical Center. He won two Grade 1 ITF events this year and made the main draw of the US Open juniors.
But Lim remains in high spirits saying he will try to make quick recovery as they lined up five more international events before the year ends.
“I feel bad that it was my first ITF Futures and this happened, But there are still more tournaments out there. The important thing is my health,” said Lim.
High hopes were pinned on him after he beat defending champion Patrick John Tierro, 8-time champ Johnny Arcilla and 2009 Australian Open boys doubles champion Francis Casey Alcantara en route to his PCA Open triumph.
That left the country with seven campaigners to root for in the second Futures meet supported by Cebuana Lhuillier, Puma, Dunlop, The Philippine Star, Head, Babolat, Compass/IMOSTI and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao.
Joining Tierro in the main draw are Alcantara, Arcilla, Australian Open juniors quarterfinalist Jeson Patrombon, veteran campaigner Elbert Anasta, and qualifiers Fil-Spaniard Diego Garcia Dalisay, Rolando Ruel and Bryan Otico.
READ: Arcilla, Tierro among local bets in ITF Futures tournament
Alcantara, Arcilla and Patrombon made the second round of the Futures 1 singles last week, while Arcilla and Alcantara barged into the semis in doubles.
“I am very excited for this year’s edition of the PCA Open being an ITF Men’s Futures. This will provide our players the opportunity to improve their world ranking and gives them the much needed exposure against world class competition,’’ said Cebuana Lhuillier President and CEO Jean Henri Lhuillier.
“This will also help us in our preparations for the Davis Cup matches next year,” added Lhuillier who is also the chair of the Philippine Tennis Association.
Also seeing action in the tourney are Enrique Lopez-Perez of Spain, Kento Takeuchi of Japan and Vinayak Sharma Kaza of India, Ilya Vasilyev of Russia, Kunal Anand of India, Yu Cheng-Yu, Liang Wen-Chun, Lin Wei-De and Lee Kuan-Yi of Chinese-Taipei, and Arata Onozawa, Makoto Ochi, Hiromasa Oku, Katsuki Nagao, Masato Shiga, Issei Okamura and Ren Nakamura of Japan.
Japanese Soichiro Moritani, Malaysian Wei Seem Lee, Australian Harry Bourchier and Taiwanese Chen Tin secured seats in the main draw after beating their respective foes in the qualifying round.
Moritani trounced Filipino Noel Damian, 6-2, 6-0; Lee routed Indian Arpit Sharma, 6-2, 6-2; Bourchier downed Japanese Yusei Fukuoka, 6-1, 6-4; and Chen edged Filipino Roel Capangpangan, 6-2, 6-3.
The $15,000 event is sponsored by Whilpool/Fujidenzo, Broadway Motor Sales Corp. Coca-Cola Femsa Philippines, Tyrecorp Incorporated, Pearl Garden Hotel, Metro Global Holdings Corporation, Avida, PVL Restaurant, Mary Grace Foods, Inc., Seno Hardware and Wire Rope Corporation.
Singles champion gets $2,160 while runner-up takes home $1,272.
