Mendoza barges into world’s top 100 juniors

THE COUNTRY’S top junior tennis player, Jurence Zosimo Mendoza, stormed into the world’s top 100 after capturing the singles crown in the recent Chickeeduck Hong Kong Open junior championships in Victoria Park.

The 16-year-old practice player for the Cebuana Lhuillier-Philippine Davis Cup team and runner-up in the PCA Open last year, outclassed Adrian Bodner of Switzerland, 6-2, 6-3, to annex the title in the Grade 3 event.

Mendoza’s win in Hong Kong followed his singles runner-up and doubles championship finishes in the China Juniors 15 last month.

As a result, the left-handed Mendoza climbed to 94th in the world from as far down as 331st at the start of year. Coach Martin Misa said he expects his ward to make the main draw of next year’s Grand Slam events.

“I feel I’m ready for the bigger tournaments in the juniors and to slowly campaign in the men’s circuit,” said Mendoza, the top junior in Southeast Asia and No. 7 in the continent. Marc Anthony Reyes