Tall Chinese teen halts Lim’s tennis run

FOURTEEN-YEAR-OLD Alberto Lim Jr., gave it his all but lost to taller and older seventh seed Qiu Zhuoyang of China, 6-2, 6-4, Friday in the China juniors 15 tennis boys singles semifinals in Xiamen.

Still exhausted over his quarterfinal victory, Lim couldn’t find the stamina to match the 17-year-old, 6-foot-2 Qiu who imposed his advantage in experience and height.

His coach, former Filipino Davis Cup captain Manny Tecson said that it was Lim’s young age that proved to be the big difference in the match.

“Alberto may look like a matured boy but in reality he is still a young kid. But when the right time comes that Alberto starts becoming physically stronger, taller and mature, I believe he will definitely be one of the top players in the world,” said Tecson.

He bared that Lim will continue competing in China and Hong Kong where he hopes Lim would use the experience he gained the past few months.

Lim made his first semifinal appearance in a Grade 3 event after beating second seed Tang Chih-chun of Chinese Taipei, 4-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-0, Thursday. Marc Anthony Reyes