Mendoza stuns No. 2 seed Anasta

MANILA, Philippines—Jurence Zosimo Mendoza played the biggest game of his young career, pulling off an upset of veteran Davis Cupper and No. 2 seed Elbert Anasta Wednesday to clinch a quarterfinal slot in the men’s singles of the Philippine Columbian Association Open tennis championships at the PCA clay-shell courts.

The high school senior at the Olongapo City National High School didn’t blink against his older, more experienced foe, recovering from a first-set loss before cutting Anasta down with two break points in the third to secure a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 win.

“He’s playing with nothing to lose,” said his coach, former PH Cupper Jun Toledo, who also mentored 2009 Australian Open junior doubles champion Francis Casey Alcantara.

“Eventually his game got better and better. It was a big win for him considering anybody in that situation and at that young age would have folded up.”

The 15-year-old Mendoza, who was a practice player for the Davis Cup team twice this year, broke Anasta in the first game of the third set and duplicated the trick in the 9th game to clinch the victory.

“I had too many errors in the first set, he was very strong and we worked from the baseline, but I guess I pressured him when I got back in the second set,” said the 5-foot-10 Mendoza, who this early is expected to be the next tennis hotshot after Alcantara and Jeson Patrombon.

He has competed in at least 10 international junior tournaments this year and bagged a championship each in the doubles and singles in the Vietnam International Junior Championships Prudential Cup-Bac Lieu last October.

Mendoza will seek a semifinal seat against Ralph Kevin Barte, who booted out Arcie Mano, 6-3, 6-2.

Meanwhile, top seed Johnny Arcilla continued to slash his way through his half of the draw when he whipped Antonio Quiza, 6-0, 6-2. He advanced against Alexander Lazaro, who topped Roel Campampangan, 6-1, 6-0.

The Ruel brothers Rolando Jr. and Arvin arranged a showdown in the next round after besting their respective opponents. Rolando Jr., scored a 6-0, 6-0 shutout over Antonio Sagansay III, while Arvin downed Fritz Verdad, 6-2, 6-1.

In ladies’ singles second round, Maika Jae Tanpoco pulled off a 6-1, 4-6, 6-2 shocker over third seed Aileen Rogan. She will next take on No. 5 Tamitha Nguyen, who handily eliminated Melissa Esguerra, 6-0, 6-0.

Also making it to the quarterfinals were Mariel Ante and Martina Guba who brushed off Alyssa Labay, 6-3, 6-1, and Roxanne Resma, 6-1, 6-1, respectively. Ante will take on Louise Lopez who walked over former champ Bambi Zoleta, while Guba will battle top seed Anna Clarice Patrimonio who also advanced by default.

Second seed Marian Jade Capadocia walked over Maia Bernadette Balce and will next square off with Marinel Rudas, who bested Macy Gonzales, 6-0, 0-6, 6-3.