Dietrich, Thais foil Schnack's title bids

MANILA, Philippines –  French lass Elodie Rogge-Dietrich and a Thai pair foiled Fil-Am Yasmin Schnack’s twin crack at the crown in the PLDT-SMART ITF Women’s Circuit Week 2 yesterday at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

Third seed Dietrich dismantled No. 6 Schnack, 6-4, 6-0, to cop the singles crown while Luksika Kumkhum and Peangthan Pliphuech of Thailand dealt Schnack and partner Ivana King of the US a 6-4, 7-5 beating to capture the doubles plum.

The 27-year-old Dietrich, a quarterfinalist in Week 1 of the ITF-sanctioned leg, threw the Sacramento-based Fil-Am out of her comfort zone with her power baseline game.

“I tried to neutralize her drop shots by engaging her in a power game from the baseline,” said Dietrich, who won $1,568 and six ranking points with this win.

Schnack, 22, returned to the court with partner King later in the day but Kumkhum and Pliphuech proved steadier down the stretch to rule the doubles side of the event also backed by the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Tennis Association, Slazenger Balls, Chris Sports, Viva Mineral Water, Powerade, Coca-Cola Bottlers Phils., Inc., and Century Park Hotel.

After yielding the first set, Schnack and King threatened to force a decider when they posted a 5-4 lead. But Kumkhum and Pliphuech broke the US girls in the 10th game, held serve in the next, and turned to their net game in the 12th to wrap up the match.