Tierro continues upset spree, barges into semis in Olivares netfest

MANILA, Philippines – Patrick John Tierro sank the Spanish Armada for the second straight day as he stunned another Spaniard, fourth seed Roberto Ortega-Olmedo, 6-1, 6-7(2), 7-6(5), to gatecrash into the semifinals of the $15,000 Olivarez-Cup-Philippine International Men's Tennis Championship at the Rizal Tennis Center Friday.

Tierro, 27, blew seven match points, including two in the third and final set tiebreaker before Ortega-Olmedo returned a forehand shot long to seal the deal and a semis showdown with eighth pick Karunuday Singh of India, who likewise went to the distance with No. 2 Chen Ti of Taipei before prevailing, 6-7(3), 6-3, 7-6(5).

Ortega-Olmedo, who is ranked 338th in the International Tennis Federation singles rankings, became the second Spanish player that the tall, imposing Tierro eliminated after the latter booted out Adam Sanjurjo-Hermida, 5-7, 6-3, 6-3, the day before.

By virtue of Tierro's gigantic victory, he will become the first Filipino in decades to ever make it as far as the semis of an international men's tournament since Raymond Suarez and Felix Barrientos lorded it over the field in the 80s and early 90s, respectively.

"I'm extremely happy considering that I haven't really made it to the semis in an event this strong, not even when I was in the Top 700 back in the days when I was still young," said Tierro.

"It also made me happier that I'm playing it before my countrymen," he added.

Fil-Am Ruben Gonzales gave the country another reason to rejoice after his partnership with former Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Sonchat Ratiwatana of Thailand resulted to a 6-2, 6-2 whitewashing of Mohd Merzuki of Malaysia and Ivo Minar of the Czech Republic, 6-4, 6-4 to surge to the doubles finals.

Gonzales and Ratiwatana gun for the title as they face off with the winner between No. 3 Ti Chen of Taipei and Christopher Rungkat of Indonesia and Ivo Klec of Slovakia and Karunaday Singh of India.

The day, however, belonged to Tierro.

On the verge of cramping just after Ortega-Olmedo held serve to knot the count at five apiece in the third and final set, Tierro dag deep into his reservoir of strength and mustered enough resolve to force a tiebreak that he dominated by leading by three points twice before prevailing.

"It really helped me that the crowd is supporting me, it gives me strength even though my leg is about to cramp," he said.

Tierro had the chance to finish off Ortega-Olmedo, the first when he was leading, 5-4, in the second set and serving for the match and the other in the 10th game of the deciding set when he was also up, 5-4, and about to break the latter when he led, 0-40.

But the former La Salle standout blew five match points and allowed Ortega-Olmedo to hold serve and knot the count at 5-all while zapping the energy out of Tierro, who sought a medical time out after complaining his cramping right leg.

Tierro came out of the three-minute break rejuvenated, led 3-0, 4-2 and 6-3, watched Ortega-Olmedo closed the gap with a pair of blazing forehands and another one that sailed long, triggering a much-needed celebration for Phl tennis after getting shutout in the international juniors event the country hosted just last week.

"I was just here to warm up for the Davis Cup, I never really expected to make it this far," said Tierro, who will join Gonzales, Fil-Am Treat Huey and Johnny Arcilla when the country clashes with Pakistan in a Group II tie from April 4 to 6 at the Phl Columbian Association's Plaza Dilao courts.

"Since I made it here, why not go for it," he added.