Milliam, Madis clash for Cañiza tennis title

MANILA, Philippines — Top seed Alexa Milliam reached the finals of the first Rina Cañiza Women’s Tennis Open yesterday, dispatching Shaira Rivera, 6-1, 6-2, while unranked Tennielle Madis mounted her own charge in the lower draw, easing past No. 14 Nichole dela Rita, 6-2, 6-2, at the PCA outdoor courts in Paco, Manila.

Milliam, 17, sustained her run of lopsided victories since thrashing Debbie Gom-Os, 6-1, 6-2, in the second round following an opening-day bye in the upper half of the 64-player draw as the La Carlota ace blasted Sydney Enriquez, 6-1, 6-1, then repulsed Melanie Dizon, 6-4, 6-2, in last Thursday’s quarterfinal round.

The Group A event was put up by former national player Rina Cañiza in partnership with the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala, led by president/CEO Bobby Castro.

Madis, 15, likewise kept churning out one big game after the other in her side of the battle.

Milliam and Madis contest the championship at 8 a.m. today.