Tennis player Capadocia seeks private sector’s help

MANILA, Philippines — The country’s top women’s tennis player Marian Jade Capadocia is knocking on the doors of the private sector as she plunges headlong into the Women’s Tennis Association circuit.

The 18-year-old Capadocia, who turned down scholarship offers in the United States, recently made the main draw of the Hong Kong WTA $10,000 event by beating world-ranked players.

She defeated 878th Australian Abbie Myers (4-6, 6-4, 6-3) and Taiwanese Yang Chia-hsieh (6-3, 6-4) to book a slot in the main draw, where she dropped a 6-3, 6-1 decision to France’s Chole Paquet,  ranked 646th in the world.

The women’s singles champion of PCA Open for three straight years, Capadocia tried her luck in Hong Kong $25,000 last week but lost to world No. 345 Han Na-lee of Korea (5-7, 6-2, 6-1) in the qualifying round.

Her coach and father, Joe Capadocia, said she needs support to join more events in the pros.

“Right now the decision is for her to concentrate on her tennis career,” said the elder Capadocia. “It’s difficult to study and the same time pursue a career in tennis. She has the talent and she needs support.”

Capadocia, who largely competes on local soil, is currently unranked in the WTA.