Top seed Albert Lim Jr. sustained his title campaign with a 6-2, 6-2 win yesterday over Thai Charles Roberts to barge into the boys’ semifinals of the Ajay Pathak Memorial Cup ITF 14-Under Developmental Championship Division I at Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.
Though one of the youngest in this tournament at 13, the stocky, big-serving Lim had little trouble besting Roberts and setting up a semifinal duel with Indian Parikshit Somani, who beat Hong Kong’s Lee Wai-leuk, 6-0, 6-4.
Unfortunately in the girls’ side, Filipino-Briton Meredith Jones headed to the exit after dropping a 6-1, 6-2 decision to South Korea’s Jan Eun-se in the quarterfinals.
Boys’ second seed Vorachon Rakpuangchon of Thailand routed Indian Vashist Cheruku, 6-2, 6-3, to also make the semifinals. He will face No. 3 Alan Chun Sou-ming of Hong Kong, a 6-4, 7-5 winner over Nitin Kumar Sinha of India.
“I’m playing very well, I just hope I can keep the level of my game and go all the way,” said Lim, Letran’s star player in the NCAA.
The event is sponsored by the ITF Grand Slam Development Fund and the Philippine Tennis Academy, and is named after the late Philippine Tennis Association vice president.
Jan will seek a finals spot when she goes up against No. 6 Ren Jiaqi of China, who bested No. 2 Mihika Yadav of India, 6-4, 7-6 (8-6).
Tang Yutong of China trounced Uzbekistan’s Komo Umarova, 6-3, 6-2, while Himani Mor of India downed Yinglak Jittakoat of Thailand, 7-5, 4-6, 6-3, to set up a semifinal duel.