Busy sked for top junior tennis player

MANILA, Philippines - Albert “AJ” Lim, the country’s top junior player, kicks off a busy schedule this summer as he goes for a second straight men’s title in Lucena City starting today.

Aside from competing in Lucena – a tournament that gathers some of the country’s top players – Lim will be the spearhead of the Philippine Junior Davis Cup team when it clashes with Malaysia starting on April 28.

After his Davis Cup campaign, Lim is also lined up to compete in Beijing, where he intends to bolster his International Tennis Federation (ITF) ranking.

Lim is currently ranked No. 174 in the ITF’s 18-under but is rated No. 2 in the 14-under category.

Lim reigned supreme in the recent Cainta tournament, which made him the youngest winner of the tournament at 14 – eclipsing the record of former No. 1 Manny Tolentino who topped the Cainta event at 15.

“The Lucena tournament is my preparation for the Davis Cup,” said Lim, who said the Philippine Sports Commission remains as one of his main sponsors. “I did not turn down the sponsorship of the PSC, in fact, I’m so thankful that PSC chairman Richie Garcia has been very supportive in my campaigns abroad since last year.”

Aside from the PSC, also helping nurture Lim’s talent are his Davis Cup mentor Martin Misa and the Florida-based L’ Academie de Tennis.

An avowed Roger Federer fan, Lim also hopes to compete in junior grand slam events and represent the country in several high-level tournaments, including the Davis Cup, Asian and SEA Games.

“That’s why I need all the help I can get, especially from the PSC, as I also want to play for flag and country,” added Lim.