Mendoza, three others forge big Phinma victories

MANILA, Philippines – Budding stars Jurence Zosimo Mendoza, Tamitha Nguyen, Maika Jae Tanpoco and Jasmine Ho opened the local campaign in the Phinma International Juniors Championships Week 1 with explosive first-round wins Wednesday at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

Fifteen-year-old Mendoza, who has been training with the Davis Cup team, cruised past Jung Lee-hyun, 6-2, 6-1, to advance in the Grade 4 event, where he emerged champion in the second week last year.

Seeded fourth, the left-handed Mendoza is coming off a triumphant campaign last month in Vietnam where he ruled the Prudential Cup-Bac Lieu Grade 5 tourney.

The seventh seed Tanpoco easily booted out Khee Yen Wee of Singapore, 6-1, 6-2. Tanpoco, 16, will next battle Russian Anna Grigoryan, who ousted Mariel Zaire Ante of the United States, 6-3, 6-0.

Nguyen, the third seed, advanced at the expense of Tatyana Grigoryan of Russia, 6-1, 6-4, late Tuesday along with Ho, who drubbed Regina Zabarskaya also of Russia, 6-0, 6-1.