Janella Rose Prulla understands that on the court, she has to mean business.
So the second seed in the women’s singles draw had no qualms dispatching of doubles partner Makeliah Nepomuceno, 6-3, 6-4, on Thursday and shift her focus to a semifinal showdown in the 39th Philippine Columbian Association Open Tennis Championships.
She wasn’t aware at press time who she would face. Miles Vitaliano and qualifier Alexiera Santos were battling in the other half of the women’s draw at the PCA Plaza Dilao indoor shell court in Paco, Manila.
But it doesn’t matter who emerges from that battle.
“I’ve seen them play and I expect it to be tough whoever between them I face in tomorrow (today),” said the 17-year-old ace who saw action in the Hanoi Southeast Asian Games.
Three years ago, Prulla, who is from San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan, made it all the way to the finals in her PCA Open debut. She eventually lost to
Marian Jade Capadocia in the final, but not after becoming the youngest finalist of the tournament at 14.
Meanwhile, Alexa Joy Milliam outlasted Justine Hannah Maneja, 6-4, 2-6, 6-3, to likewise advance to the semifinals, where she will face either Capadocia, the top seed and seven-time winner here or Kyle Emana.