Koreans sweep Mariposa tennis singles titles

MANILA, Philippines—Chung Yun-seong and Kim Soo-min captured the singles titles to cap South Korea’s domination of the rain-marred Mariposa Foundation junior tennis tournament Saturday.

Chun crushed top seed Albert Lim Jr., 6-4, 6-2 to clinch the boys’ crown while Kim downed Isabella Orteza, 7-6 (7-2), 6-0, for the girls’ title.

Due to monsoon rains all morning, organizers decided to transfer the final matches to the covered courts of the Olivarez College in Parañaque from the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

The hosts’ woes started in the doubles finals played at RMTC late Friday.

Chung and Park Ji-hun rolled back Eric Olivarez Jr. and Vince Russell Salas, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4), in the boys’ division while Kim paired with Yada Satona of Japan to upset top pick Orteza and Maia Balce, 6-3, 6-4, in the girls’ section.

Lim, who at 12 wants to be the youngest Davis Cup PH player, fought hard against the taller and more experienced Chung, but the reigning Pacific Coast tennis 14-under champion fell short in the end.

The second seed Orteza, 14, also made a gallant stand as she dragged Kim to a tiebreak in the first set.

Kim won the tiebreak at 7-2 then completely outclassed the De La Salle-Zobel freshman in the second set.

Orteza and Lim each received 200 ATF points for reaching the finals of the event held as part of the Asian 14-Under series.