Mitsubishi junior tennis qualifier set

The Mitsubishi Lancer International Juniors Tennis Championships resumes this weekend when world-rated campaigners in the 18 years and below division converge at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center for the 12th edition of the annual ITF Group 2 event.

The tournament, the third biggest and toughest juniors competitions in Asia, starts with the qualifying round for four slots in the 32-man main draw of both the boys’ and girls’ divisions tomorrow.

Sign-in for the qualifying ends at 6 p.m. today.

Main draw competitions begin on Tuesday after a short opening ceremony to be graced by Mitsubishi Motors Philippines (MMPC) president and CEO Teruhiko Shibata, Philippine Sports Commission chairman Carlos Tuason, Philippine Olympic Committee president Celso Dayrit, Philippine Tennis Association (Philta) head Buddy Andrada and other MMPC and sports officials.

The event, which has produced the latest sensations in the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Tour – American Andy Roddick and Australian Lleyton Hewitt – as well as the likes of Leander Paes and Mark Philippoussis, will be bannered by world juniors No. 19 Prakash Amritraj of the USA, son of the eminent Vijay Amritraj, in the boys’ division and world No. 36 Hsieh Su-Wei of Taiwan in the distaff side.

According to Andrada, at least four Filipinos each in both divisions will be included in the main draw aside from those who will come from the qualifying round which ends Monday.

The tournament, co-sponsored by Adidas, Universal Robina Corp., Gatorade, Manila Midtown Hotel, Wilson balls and the PSC and supported by Viva Mineral Water, Custom Classics, Kenwood, RX93.1, WKC93.9, MBC Radio and Rupert Signs, will also have a doubles event in both divisions. ITF points, which count towards world rankings, will be awarded to the winners.

"This year, the Mitsubishi Lancer International Juniors Tennis Championships will be a special one as we are celebrating its 12th anniversary – a milestone in MMPC’s history and in the field of sports," Shibata declared. "We are proud that we have been associated with this annual event that is based solely on our commitment to help develop the youth through sports."

The Philippines, while failing to produce a boys’ division champion, have won five times in the girls’ division – Francesca La’O in 1991 and 1994, Jennifer Saret in 1992, and Maricris Fernandez in 1995 and 1997.

Saret and La’O teamed up for the doubles title in 1992 while Saret paired with Indonesian Joice Sutedja for the 1990 title and Marisue Jacutin teamed up with Australian Amanda Graham for the 1997 crown.

This year, the Philippines’ bid will be spreaheaded by world No. 144 Czarina Mae Arevalo, who is seeded 13th in the girls’ division.