Alberto Lim Jr. didn’t have to stop eating his breakfast to discuss Greek tennis superstar Stefanos Tsitsipas. Chewing on his native meal, he told this reporter: “Tinalo ko na ’yun (I already beat him once).”
The youngest yet most daring national team member said that, given the chance, he would want to face the World No. 5 player again—this time in singles play—when the Philippines hosts Greece in the Davis Cup World Group 2 tie on March 6-7.
“I have nothing to lose,” said the 20-year-old Lim, who recently won bronze in the Southeast Asian Games. “The tie will be here. I only have to play my best.”
In the 2016 Orange Bowl doubles quarterfinals, Lim beat Tsitsipas in three sets.
“It was only in doubles, not in singles,” reiterated Lim, who reached No. 12 in the world in juniors.
Yet who knows, with a hometown crowd behind them and a pumped-up vibe, the Filipinos just might pull off an unexpected.
Tsitsipas, the 21-year-old ATP Finals champ, is not yet sure of playing, although the Philippine team is excited of him coming over.
The Philippines gets a rare chance of facing a team across the globe following an innovation which takes effect this year.
“This is good because it will give Filipinos global scale exposure instead of facing only Asian nations,” said national coach Chris Cuarto. “We get to play everyone around the world.”
Lim, Jeson Patrombon and Eric Olivarez Jr. are the other members of the national pool who are deep in preparations at Philippine Columbian Association. INQ