Manila: National team member Stefi Marithe Aludo achieved a commanding victory over Indonesia's third seed Gwen Emily Kurniawan, 6-1, 6-3, in the girls' singles event of the Oscar J. Hilado J60 World Tennis Championship Week 2, held at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center. This win marks a pivotal step in Aludo's journey through the tournament's Group C round-robin preliminaries, as she aims for two more victories to secure a spot in the quarterfinals.
According to Philippines News Agency, Aludo, who previously earned a bronze medal in doubles and team events at the 2025 SEA Games, expressed her satisfaction with the triumph. "I'm happy to win my first match; hopefully, I'll make it to the next round," shared Aludo, an incoming college freshman at the University of Hawaii. Despite bowing out to eventual champion Korean Yerin Lee in the quarterfinals during the first leg, Aludo captured the doubles title alongside her Philippine Tennis Academy partner, Louraine Jallorina.
In other matches, local talent Mikaela Rose Ngu dominated her first Group C match, defeating Thailand's Krissana Rodprasert, 6-0, 6-2. Meanwhile, in Group E, Jana Jelena Nicole Diaz of the Philippines secured a victory against American Sofia Bartolata, 6-0, 6-3. Japanese fifth seed Kimika Fukui also emerged victorious, outplaying local contender Kathlyn Ann Bugna, 6-2, 7-5, in the tournament that contributes to World Tennis (formerly International Tennis Federation) points.
The event, now in its 18th edition, has been renamed in honor of the late PHINMA Corp. Chairman Emeritus Oscar J. Hilado, acknowledging his enduring support and contributions to Philippine tennis. The tournament's past champions include notable players such as Alexandra Eala, Francis Casey Alcantara, John Bryan Otico, Arthur Craig Pantino, Khim Iglupas, Tennielle Madis, and Aludo.
