Phinma tennis: Lim, Capadocia march on

MARIAN Capadocia and Alberto Lim barged into the finals and ease the pain brought by the surprise loss of compatriot Jurence Mendoza to a Japanese in Week One of the Phinma International Juniors Tennis Championships at Rizal Memorial Tennis Center yesterday.

Inspired by his shocking wins over No. 1 Sri Vaishnavi Peddi Reddy of India and No. 8 Ma Yi Chi of Chinese Taipei in the last two rounds, the 17-year-old Capadocia added No. 3 Miki Kobayashi of Japan to her growing list of victims, 6-3, 7-5, and advanced to the finals.

There, Capadocia will take on another giant-slayer in Gabriella Umoquit of the United States, a 7-6(4), 6-3 winner over No. 7 Tamachan Momkoonthod of Thailand.

Umoquit also needed to bundle out a big fish, No. 2 Chang Ya Ting of Chinese Taipei, 7-5, 6-0, in Tuesday’s second round of this ranking event sponsored by Technifibre (official ball), Viva mineral water and Powerade.

But the day belonged to Lim, the youngest participant at 13 years old, who barged into the finals following a 6-1, 6-4 win over Australia’s Daniel Nolan.

Lim, who has gotten confidence since toppling No. 5 Chen Xin of China, 3-6, 6-3, 6-1, was looking forward to an interesting title showdown with countryman Mendoza but the latter, the top seed here being ranked 76th in the world, yielded to No. 4 Yusuke Takahashi, 2-6, 6-4, 4-6 defeat.

Instead, the burden will be on Lim, who hopes to bring his magic against Takahashi, the last remaining seeded netter in the boys side.