Fukuda sweeps Phinma crowns

MANILA, Philippines - Japanese Shiori Fukuda scored a twin-kill in the girls’ division while Taiwanese Wei-De Lin lived up to his top billing in the boys’ side as foreigners capped a fiery campaign in Week 1 of the Phinma International Juniors yesterday at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

The third-seeded Fukuda beat No. 7 Saya Ito in an all-Japanese finale, 6-3, 6-4, to annex the girls’ singles crown after previously ruling the girls’ doubles of the event put up by the Phinma Group of Companies and sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association.

Fukuda and compatriot Chihiro Muramatsu earlier reigned in the doubles via a 6-4, 6-2 disposal of Ito and another Japanese girl, Haruna Arakawa.

No. 1 Lin flashed his winning form in clobbering Japanese Shohei Chikami in their showdown for the boys’ singles crown, 6-2, 6-0.

Chikami managed to fight Lin on even terms in the first four games before World No. 272 Lin asserted himself and cruised to victory.

Lin’s fellow Taiwanese Jeffrey Hsu emerged triumphant in the boys’ doubles in partnership with Japanese Kento Yamada. Hsu and Yamada defeated Indonesian Bryan Husin and Japanese Naoto Kai, 6-4, 7-5, to cop the crown in the event backed by the PSC, Dunlop Fort All Court Balls, Wilkins and Viva Mineral Water,

Meanwhile, Filipino bets fell at the start of the qualifying play for Week 2.

Shaira Hope Rivera bowed to Belgian Ines Absisan, 4-6, 1-6, in the girls’ qualifiers while John Jeremiah Tomacruz suffered the same fate against Japanese Taketo Takamisawa, 1-6, 1-6, over in the boys’ qualifiers.