Lim gains in Florida tennis

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines’ Albert Lim Jr. shocked second seed Alexander del Corral, 6-2, 6-1, yesterday to barge into the semifinal round of the 12-and-under division of the Junior Orange Bowl in Coral Gables, Florida.

The victory set up Lim, who hurdled the tough qualifying round, against another American, ninth pick Noah Makarome, who edged countryman No. 8 Sam Riffice, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5.

The other semis showdown pits top seed Artem Dubrivnyy of Russia, a 7-5, 7-5 winner over unseeded Argentinian Juan Bautista Otegui against No. 6 Ergi Kurkin of Turkey, who downed No. 3 Alexei Poperyn of Australia, 6-2, 6-4.

On his way to the semis, Lim toppled Great Britain’s Barnaby Smith, 7-5, 6-0, Israel’s Jonathan Hefetz, 6-2, 6-1, Francisco Catulo or Portugal, 6-0, 6-0, and No. 5 Thomas Etcheverry of Argentina, 3-6, 6-1, 6-1.

Lim used right-hand volleys and crisp, forehand serves to breeze past his opponents, including the higher seeded ones.

Lim, one of the country’s leading junior netters, is campaigning in the United States Tennis Association circuit for the first time with his first five wins expected to net him enough points to gain a ranking.