Tierro upsets Spaniard, gains semifinals

MATCHES SUNDAY (Rizal Tennis Center)
10 a.m.—Singles semis
12:30 p.m.—Doubles finals

MANILA, Philippines — Patrick John Tierro kept on hitting hard until he punched through “The Wall.”

Faced with an opponent who seemed to have an answer to everything thrown at him, the  lone  Filipino survivor persevered and was rewarded in the end  by bringing down Spaniard fourth seed Roberto Ortega-Olmedo to reach the men’s singles semifinals of the $15,000 Olivarez Cup-Philippine international men’s championship.

“He was returning the ball like I was playing against the wall,” said Tierro after his  grueling 6-1, 6-7 (7-2), 7-6 (7-5), victory at high noon yesterday at Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

The 28-year-old Tierro needed two hours and  29 minutes before eventually completing the big upset over the 22-year-old Olmedo who is ranked 330th in the world.

He will next face eighth seed Karunuday Singh of India, who upset second seed Ti Chen of Chinese Taipei, 6-7 (7-3), 6-3, 7-6 (7-5).

“I haven’t played with any of them,” said Tierro.  “Right now, I just want to continue whatever I do that is working.”

Top seed Benjamin Mitchell of Australia dumped sixth seed Ivo Klec of Slovakia, 7-5, 6-1, to advance against Japanese third seed Shuichi Sekiguchi, who ousted fifth seed Andrew Whittington of Australia, 7-5, 6-2.

Dragged to a deciding set, Tierro held serve and forged another tiebreak battle where the 6-foot Tierro stormed to a 3-0 lead.

“My confidence is at an all-time high,” said Tierro.  “I’ll just keep on hitting.”