Mendoza, Tanpoco gain in Phinma tennis opener

MANILA, Philippines - Jurence Mendoza made short work of Korean Jigin Kweon, 6-2, 6-2, while Maika Tanpoco went through some anxious moments before subduing India’s Mahitha Dadi Reddy, 6-4, 7-5, at the start of Week One of the Grade Four Phinma International Juniors Tennis Championships at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

The top-seeded Mendoza, 16, needed just a little over an hour to finish off Kweon, a qualifier, and arrange a second round duel with the winner between Chinese Taipei’s Wu Ting Lin and Hong Kong’s Lam Siu Chuen, who are still playing at pressime.

“I’ve faced tougher players in Grade A and higher-graded events in Japan and Korea in the last several weeks before this tournament and I know my life will be a little bit easier here,” said Mendoza.

Mendoza saw action in Grade A, two Grade Two and a Grade B1 events in the last four weeks in Japan and Korea, earning enough points to improve to No. 76 in the ITF world junior rankings.

With a solid showing in this two-leg event sponsored by Technifibre (official ball), Viva (official mineral water) and Powerade (official energy drink) and supported by the Philippine Sports Commission and sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association and with higher-ranked, older guys graduating from the juniors circuit by the yearend, the Olongapo City native is expected to hit the Top 40 ranking.

As it is, Mendoza said his current ranking has assured him of a spot in the main draw of the Australian Juniors Open in January.

“I’m going to play in the Grand Slam in the Australian Open early next year,” said Mendoza, also vying in the next month’s Phl Columbian Association Open where he hopes to improve on his runner up finish last year.

Tanpoco, the highest ranked Filipino at No. 4 in the girls’ side who is seeking a follow-up to her victory in Singapore Juniors last week, broke Reddy once in the opening frame then pulled through in a thrilling second set duel to arrange a Last 16 clash with Gabriella Taylor of Great Britain in the girls’ division.

Taylor showed too much class in ousting Japanese Miyo Kobayashi, 6-2, 6-2.

Roxanne Resma also held on to thwart Nnena Nadozie of the US, 7-6(4), 6-4, and set up a clash with No. 5 Plobrung Plipuech of Thailand, who bundled out Taiwan’s Han Chi Chen, 6-2, 6-2.

Marian Capadocia, meanwhile, breezed past Russian Kristina Pastukhova, 6-1, 6-1, but will have her hands full against top seed Sri Vaishnavi Peddi Reddy of India, who beat Nozomi Ohya of Japan, 6-3, 6-2.

Three local bets, however, fell by the wayside with Lenelyn Milo bowing to Thai Tamachan Momkoonthod, 6-0, 6-0, Angela Sunga dropping a 6-4, 6-2 setback to Taiwan’s Yi Chi Ma, and Maia Balce succumbing to India’s Pranjalla Ydlapalli, 6-0, 6-2.

Fil-Aussie Melissa Esguerra, a qualifier, repulsed Malaysian Jia Wei Ti, 6-1, 4-6, 6-1, to seal a second round duel with Momkoonthod in the event, the first of two six-week tournaments lined up for some of the world’s leading and rising junior players.

Week 2 is slated Nov. 27-Dec. 2. For details, contact Loida Mallare at 0947-4554094. The tournament supervisor is Wannawit Srirasa of Thailand.