Iglupas forges title clash vs Indonesian

FILIPINO top seed Khim Iglupas brushed off a lethargic start to down Thai Watsachol Sawasdee, 4-6, 6-1, 6-1, yesterday and barge into the girls’ singles finals of the Phinma-PSC International Junior Tennis Championships Week 1 at  Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

The 16-year-old Iglupas, the pride of Iligan City and a protege of the Philippine Tennis Academy, hadn’t dropped a set in the event until the left-handed Thai shocked her with a break in the third game to take the opening set.

But it didn’t take long for Iglupas to settle down and impose her experience on the 14-year-old Sawasdee.

Iglupas will next take on Indonesian Rifanty Kahfiani, who crushed Japanese Satoko Sueno, 6-0, 6-2, in the other semifinals.

Coach Jun Toledo said Iglupas is in the best shape, physically and psychologically, to capture the ITF Grade 4 event.

Iglupas, whose best showing here was a quarterfinal stint last year, will try to become the first local in two years to win the girls’ singles in this event sponsored by Phinma, PSC and Mariposa Foundation.  Marc Anthony Reyes