Korean stuns Phl top bet in Asian jrs

MANILA, Philippines - Korean Soomin Kim dished out a near-flawless game to defang top seed Roxanne May Resma, 6-2, 6-2, and barge into the quarterfinal round of the Mariposa Foundation Cup Presented by the Philippine Tennis Academy ATF 14-Under Series at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center yesterday.

Kim stamped her class early and broke Resma twice in the first set then sustained her form to essay a convincing victory and a clash with Samantha Um in the quarterfinal round of the girls singles.

Um, ranked No. 8 in the event, sponsored by the PTA and backed by ATP Head as official balls, bounced back from a first-set setback and outlasted Maria Dominique Ong in the thrilling decider to hack out a 1-6, 6-2, 7-5 victory in their own side of the duel.

Second seed Isabella Orteza, on the other hand, survived Japanese Saeka Nakamura, 7-6(5), 7-5, to arrange a showdown with No. 5 Jade Charito Capadocia, who repulsed Janelle Llavore, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, in the lower half of the draw.

The other quarters pairing pits No. 4 Maia Bernadette Balce against No. 6 Erika Manduriao after the former held off Alexie Santos, 7-6(5), 3-6, 6-3, and the latter thwarted Yada Satona of Japan, 3-6, 6-0, 6-4.

In boys’ action, Korean Chung Yun-seong scored a follow-up to his upset win over No. 5 Miguel dela Paz in the first round as he downed Dave Mosqueda, 6-2, 6-1, to advance to the last 8 phase of the event sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association.

Top seed Albert Lim, Jr. remained on track of his title bid as he dominated Jose Arguelles, 6-1, 6-2, to set up a quarters clash with Angelo Gonzales, who booted out Julian Dayrit, 6-3, 6-1.

Third seed Park Ji-hun of Korea also clipped Marc Agner, 6-1, 6-3, to set up a showdown with Jerome Romualdez, who swept Jeleardo Amazona, 6-2, 6-2.

Others who advanced were Christian Fel Lopez, who bundled out Abdul Allian, 6-2, 6-2, and second seed Daniel Villaseñor, who thumped Arthur Pantino, 6-1, 6-2.