PH tennis aces storm into Phinma s’finals

MARIAN Capadocia and Jurence Mendoza toppled their respective rivals in straight sets as the Philippines remained on course of a rare sweep of the Phinma International Juniors Tennis Championships at Rizal Memorial Tennis Center yesterday.

The unranked Capadocia, who stunned Indian top seed Sri Vaishnavi Peddi Reddy, 6-1, 6-2, on Wednesday, routed No. 8 Ma Yi-chi of Taiwan, 6-2, 6-1, to clinch a semifinal slot in girls’ play against third seed Miki Kobayashi of Japan, who whitewashed No. 5 Plobrung Pliphuech of Thailand, 6-0, 6-0.

Mendoza thumped No. 6 Ahmed Deedat Abdul Razak, 6-2, 6-1, to forge a semifinal match with Japan’s Yusuke Takahashi who downed Congsup Congcar of Thailand, 7-5, 6-0.

Alberto Lim, 13, matched Mendoza’s advance as he downed Shoma Kato of Japan, 6-1, 7-5. He next faces Aussie Daniel Nolan, who repulsed Shoki Kasahara of Japan, 7-5, 7-6(2).

Also advancing to the girls’ semifinals were No. 7 Tamachan Momkoonthod of Thailand, who bested Gabriella Taylor of Britain, 6-4, 6-1, and Gabriella Umoquit of the United States, who waylaid Japanese qualifier Lisa Marie Rioux, 6-2, 6-1.

The listing for the qualifying phase of the Week 2 tournament, set Nov. 27 to Dec. 2, will be held today from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Philta office.