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| Mai Hontama needed only 44 minutes to beat Filipina opponent Elsie Abarquez. Cesca Rampas |
MANILA--Elsie Abarquez took the fall in her first taste of tennis action at a higher level after bowing to Japanese foe Mai Hontama, 0-6, 0-6, in the first round of the Philippine Women's Open main draw on Monday at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.
Hontama, ranked 244th in the world by the WTA, made quick work of Abarquez, a member of National University's three-peat team in the UAAP, in just 44 minutes.
Hontama won 17 of 22 first serve points and nine of 13 second serve points, while facing Abarquez's serves, she won 17 of 24 first return points and eight of 11 second return points.
Hontama won six break points while saving all four of Abarquez's attempts to win a game against her serve.
"I'm so very happy to win. There is no information about her, so it was very tough," Hontama said.
Hontama could get a chance to play fellow Japanese Sakura Hosogi in the next round if she beats fifth-seeded Camila Osorio in a match ongoing as of posting.
On the other hand, Abarquez admitted that she was starstruck playing under brighter lights.
"Unexpected siya," said Abarquez, adding that she will work on her movements more so she can compete at the WTA level.
