Top Lancer Tennis seeds tumble

MANILA, Philippines–Upsets rocked the Mitsubishi Lancer international junior tennis Saturday with the top seeds in both boys’ and girls’ singles tumbling out in the semifinals at Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

Australia’s Harry Bourchier bowed out after a 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 shocker from fourth seed Kang Ku-keon of South Korea, while Katie Boulter of Great Britain crumbled against third seed Kimberly Birrell of Australia 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-3).

Briton Rhett Purcell joined the upset spree by  drubbing eighth seed Bogdan Bobrov of Russia, 6-0, 6-1, to gain a finals berth against Kang.

The 17-year-old Kang, No. 32 in the world, surprised Bourchier with a fast-paced game and sharp returns. But he will have his hands full against Purcell, the 18-year-old who won back-to-back ITF events in Auckland and Christchurch.

In girls’ action, the statuesque Birrell imposed herself against the top seed, who reached the semis  with a string of shaky three-set victories.

The 15-year-old Birrell, a semifinalist in the last Australian Open, raised her game a notch in the second set and won  the battle of endurance in the deciding set.

A quarterfinalist of similar ITF Grade 1 events in Thailand and Malaysia, Birrell will be the favorite in the final against 14th seed Gloria Liang of Canada, who ousted 15th pick Raveena Kingsley, 6-3, 6-4.