Arcilla seizes 7th PCA singles crown
Johnny Arcilla bolstered his status as a shell-clay court master, outlasting Fil-Am and Davis Cup teammate Ruben Gonzales, 7-5, 7-6 (7-1), 0-6, 7-6 (7-5), Sunday night to capture an unprecedented seventh men’s singles title in a marathon four-hour finale of the Philippine Columbian Association Open tennis championships presented by Cebuana Lhuillier.
The 32-year-old Arcilla threw his racket and lay sprawled on the court after firing a winner down the line at the end of the match which saw him asking for medical attention due to cramps.
It was a long hard climb for Arcilla, who won last year and also prevailed in 2001, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 mostly against local competitors.
Article continues after this advertisementThis time around, he showed an all-around game, beating the likes of PJ Tierro and Fil-German top seed Marc Sieber on his way to the finals.
Marian Jade Capadocia stunned Fil-German top seed Katharina Lehnert, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, to clinch a second straight women’s singles title.
Lehnert exacted revenge as she teamed up with Fil-Am Toby Miclat to beat Capadocia and sister Jella Jade, 6-3, 6-1, in the women’s doubles final. (See full story on A31.)
