Tierro ousts another Spaniard, gains semis

MANILA, Philippines - Patrick John Tierro sustained his form and bundled out another Spaniard, this time fourth seed Roberto Ortega-Olmedo, 6-1, 6-7(2), 7-6(5), to barge into the semifinal round of the $15,000 Olivarez-Cup-Philippine International Men’s Tennis Championship at the Rizal Tennis Center yesterday.

Tierro, 27, blew seven match points, including two in the third and final set tiebreaker before Ortega-Olmedo returned a forehand shot long to yield the match, sending the Filipino bet into a Final Four duel with eighth pick Karunuday Singh of India.

Singh also went through a wringer before completing a similar upset win over No. 2 Chen Ti of Taipei, 6-7(3), 6-3, 7-6(5).

Tierro earlier eliminated Adam Sanjurjo-Hermida of Spain, 5-7, 6-3, 6-3, to arrange a quarters showdown with Ortega-Olmedo, ranked 338th in the International Tennis Federation singles rankings.

Tierro’s big victory thus made him the first Filipino in decades to ever make into 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 before my countrymen,” he added.

Fil-Am Ruben Gonzales teamed up with former SEA Games gold medallist Sonchat Ratiwatana of Thailand to beat Mohd Merzuki of Malaysia and Ivo Minar of the Czech Republic, 6-4, 6-4 to advance to the doubles finals.

Gonzales and Ratiwatana will take on the winner between No. 3 Ti Chen of Taipei and Christopher Rungkat of Indonesia and Ivo Klec of Slovakia and Karunaday Singh of India, who are still playing at presstime.

The day, however, belonged to Tierro.

Fighting off cramps just after Ortega-Olmedo held serve to tie the count at five in the third and final set, Tierro put up one gutsy stand to force a tiebreak which he eventually dominated that saw him lead by three points twice en route to victory.

“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 when he led, 5-4, in the second set and served for the match, and the other in the 10th game of the deciding set when he took a 5-4 lead and about to break the latter, 0-40.