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16-under number one seed Jenaila Rose Prulla boosts her bid for the championship with an opening day win.
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By Dugout Philippines
MAKATI--Top-seeded junior tennis players Alexa Joy Milliam and Jenaila Rose Prulla continued their winning streak, overcoming their opponents to start their campaigns in the Cebuana Lhuillier Girls’ Tennis Challenge Under 14 and Under 16 Qualifying Tournament held at the Makati Sports Club.
Fresh from claiming the girls’ singles and doubles titles in the 14th Asian Tennis Federation (ATF) 14-and-under series in Malaysia, Milliam easily disposed of Khymberly Jhane Mckenzie, 6-4, 6-0, while Prulla needed a super tie-break to held off Sydney Ezra Enriquez, 6-3, 4-6, 10-8, in the 16-under category. Both top seeds were part of the Philippine team that reached 5th place in the recent 2019 World Juniors Tennis Championships in Czech Republic.
In other 14-under matches, 3rd ranked Tiffany Claire Nocos outclassed 2nd seed Marielle Alexi Jarata, 6-0, 2-6, 10-1, while last year’s runner-up, Mica Ella Emana, survived Corazon Lambonao, 6-4, 3-6, 12-10. Angel Denopol suffered back-to-back setbacks against Jufe-Ann Cocoy, 6-0, 6-1, and Mckenzie, 6-4, 6-2.
In the 16-under category, Althea Fay Ong edged Julia Asaliah Ignacio, 6-1, 6-2, while Maria Judy Ann Padilla recovered just in time to turn back Kristine Guia Margarette Bandolis, 4-6, 6-2, 10-6. 3rd seed and last year’s runner-up, Justine Hannah Maneja, quickly overcame 2nd ranked Amanda Gabrielle Zoleta, 6-3, 6-2.
“Today’s tournament only shows how much talent and skill Filipino junior tennis players can offer in the international scene and I’m confident that this qualifier will produce the most promising athletes who can give us the best chance to take home the WTA Future Stars trophy this year,” said Jean Henri Lhuillier, Unified Tennis Philippines president and Cebuana Lhuillier president and CEO.
Sanctioned by Unified Tennis Philippines (UTP) and supported by AXA Philippines, Standard Insurance, Dunlop, and the Makati Sports Club, the competition serves as a qualifier for the Women’s Tennis Association Future Stars Finals in China in October.
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