Alberto Lim top local in Lancer junior tennis

MANILA, Philippines — Fourteen-year-old Alberto Lim Jr., head the local challenge when the world’s best young players converge for the Mitsubishi Lancer junior tennis championships from March 18 to 23 at Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

Lim is the only Filipino player expected to land in the main draw of the Grade 1 tournament outright due to his world junior ranking of 174.

Already an Orange Bowl champion, Lim ranks No. 1 in Asia in the 14-under class.

But based on the early list of entries, Lim will have his hands full against a topnotch field that includes world No. 13 Lee Duck-hee of South Korea, No. 30 Harry Bourchier of Australia, and No. 33 Ken Onishi of Japan.

The main draw will feature 14 players in the top 100 of the world ranking.

In girls’ play, seven players in the world’s top 50 and 14 in the top 100 are seeing action.

World No. 12 Sun Ziyue of China heads the girls’ cast along with No. 19 Katie Boulter of Britain, No. 34 You Ziaodi of China, No. 37 Greetje Minnen of Belgium, No. 43 Kimberly Birrel of Australia, No. 46 Katrine Isabel Steffenyer of the United States and No. 47 Sara Tomic, sister of Australian ace Bernard Tomic.

Aside from the well-built Lim, local players hoping to land spots in the boys’ main draw are Jerome Romualdez, Eric Olivarez Jr., John Bryan Decasa, Joachim Samson and Dave Sebastian Mosqueda.

In girls’ action, listed in the qualifying event are Roxanne Resma, Khim Iglupas and Maia Balce.