Foreign netters send Arevalo, Zoleta crashing

The Philippines’ Czarina Mae Arevalo and Bambi Zoleta absorbed heartbreaking setbacks yesterday and crashed out in the first round of the PLDT-Smart ITF Women’s Circuit at the Rizal Tennis Center.

The 23-year-old Arevalo, taking a break from her studies at Bangkok University, blew her chances in the first set and lost to eighth seed Li Ting of China, 5-7, 3-6, to become the first Filipina casualty in this event backed by PLDT and Smart.

“I had my chances in the first set but I couldn’t capitalize on it,” said Arevalo, who is extending her stay to compete in the PCA Open where she was a former winner.

Zoleta, 19, later followed suit, bungling four match points in the deciding set for a 1-6, 7-6 (2), 5-7 setback to Renee Binnie of Australia.

The twin losses left wildcard entries Michelle Pang and Jessica Marie Agra and qualifier Anna Christine Patrimonio as the remaining RP bets in the week-long tournament.

Pang takes on seventh pick and Week One runner-up Indonesian Ayu-Fani Damayanti while Agra squares off with Chinese qualifier Yang Yi in today’s second part of the two-day first round matches.

Patrimonio, the daughter of former PBA star Alvin Patrimonio, collides with fellow qualifier Liu Min of China.

Patrimonio, who honed her skills in a three-year training in Valencia, Spain, downed Regina Santiago, 6-2, 6-4 and China’s Zhao Di, 4-6, 6-3, 6-0, to gain a berth in the main draw.

“I hope I could perform better in this tournament,” she said.         – Joey Villar