Thai star reaches ITF-RP main draw

Montinee Tangphong of Thailand rallied past Seo Soon-mi of Korea, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, yesterday to advance in the main draw of the $10,000 Union Cement ITF-Philippines Women’s Circuit 2 at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

Tangphong, ranked No. 877 in the world, played in the qualifying of the $170,000 WTA event in Pattaya last week.

Zsuzsanna Babos of Hungary, Kim Kilsdonk of Netherlands and Diana Julianto of Indonesia downed separate rivals to earn main draw slots anew in this event supported by the ITF Grand Slam Development Fund, Wilson balls, Manila Midtown Hotel and Philippine Sports Commission,

The world’s No. 702 Babos, eliminated by wild card Ivanna Israilova in the first round of the first leg last week, scored a 6-1, 7-6 (1) victory over Pichaya Laosirichon of Thailand.

Kim Kilsdonk of Netherlands, beaten in the quarterfinals by first leg champion Sania Mirza of India, outclassed Korean Kim Hae-sung, 6-0, 6-1.

Julianto, Mirza’s victim in the second round, posted a 6-3, 6-0 win over compatriot Evelina