INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines?Korean second seed Lee Ye-Ra downed compatriot Yoo Mi in the singles final and then claimed the doubles crown with Kim Sung-jung on Sunday in the Holcim ITF women?s circuit Week 1 at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

The 22-year-old Lee, ranked 178th in the world last year, took the first set at 6-4 before Yoo quit in the second due to cramps with the scores tied at 6-6.

Lee and Kim then prevailed in another all-Korean finals in the doubles, beating Yoo and Han Na-lae, 6-4, 4-6, 10-6.

Lee won $1,568 (P74,500) aside from gaining six ranking points in the singles to boost her current world rating. The lean 5-foot-5 Lee also installed herself as clear favorite in the Week 2 action, which starts on Tuesday.

The 23-year-old Yoo, who stopped Filipino bet and Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Riza Zalameda in the first round, quit due to cramps on both legs. She received $980 and four rankings points.

Lee and Kim secured the $637 top prize plus six ranking points in world doubles, while Yoo and Han settled for $343 and four ranking points.