Soylu, Norrie Lancer tennis champions
TOP seed Ipek Soylu of Turkey again needed three sets to reassert her supremacy over Katie Boulter of Britain, 6-1, 4-6, 6-3, even as Cameron Norrie of New Zealand downed Briton Luke Bambridge, 6-2, 6-4, to rule the boys’ singles of the 24th Mitsubishi Lancer international junior tennis championships at Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.
Soylu dropped a set for the first time in the tournament but came back strong in the deciding set to end the upset bid of Boulter, who also lost to the pretty Turk in last week’s Sarawak Chief Minister’s Cup final.
“I’m so happy for this victory,” said the 16-year-old Soylu, who hails from Adaca. “I enjoy playing here and looking forward to coming back,”
She won over Boultier, 6-7 (10-8), 6-2, 6-1, in Malaysia.
Soylu is expected to rise in the world standing from No. 24, along with Boulter, who is currently 89th.
The British lass made a daring drive deep into the main draw by beating third seed Nina Stojanovic of Serbia (6-2, 6-2) and fifth seed Hikari Yamamoto of Japan (6-1, 6-3).
Earlier, the 17-year-old mop-haired Norrie, a lefty who is 21st in the world, finally nailed his first ITF Grade 1 title this year. Seeded third, Norrie stunned top seed Borna Coric of Croatia, 6-3, 6-4, in the semifinals.
All four Philippine entries failed to get past the second round.
Thirteen-year-old Alberto Lim Jr., who downed French No. 369 Ronan Jancour, 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, in the first round, was ousted by 14th seed and No. 79 Lee Duck-hee of South Korea, 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-3).
The highest ranked local junior player, Jurence Zosimo Mendoza, who reached the semifinals here last year, bowed to Alexandre Muller of France, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, after taking a bye in the opening round.
Marian Jade Capadocia, who at 17 has won the PCA women’s singles titles two years in a row, lost to Cassandra Vazquez of Mexico, 5-7, 1-6, in the first round while Maika Jane Tanpoco lost to Soylu, 3-6, 1-6, in the second round.
