Manila: Filipino Jana Jelena Nicole Diaz boosted her chances of reaching the quarterfinals after posting two victories in the first leg of the Oscar J. Hilado J60 World Tennis Championship at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center Wednesday. Diaz downed compatriots Kathlyn Ann Bugna, 6-0, 6-1, and Zacci Elyce Yuipco, 6-3, 6-0, to share the Group A lead with Korean Yerin Lee.
According to Philippines News Agency, Lee, ranked No. 394 in the world, clobbered Bugna, 6-0, 6-0, and Yuipco, 6-0, 6-0. Under the World Tennis (formerly International Tennis Federation) rules, J60 events use a round-robin format where the top player from each four-player group advances to the single-elimination quarterfinal stage.
In Group C, Louraine Jallorina defeated American Sofia Bartolata, 4-6, 7-5 (10-5) to stay in contention for a quarterfinal berth in the annual tournament held in honor of the late PHINMA Corp. Chairman Emeritus Oscar J. Hilado in recognition of his lifelong support for and contributions to Philippine tennis. Jallorina has a 1-1 record behind Indonesian Gwen Emily Kurniawan (2-0). Taylah Lessue of Australia also has a 2-0 slate in Group B.
Meanwhile, SEA Games medalist Stefi Marithe Aludo whipped Chinese Mengxi Sun, 6-0, 6-1, for her first win in Group E, while wild card Maristella Torrecampo demolished Pin-Tsen Chou of Chinese Taipei, 6-0, 6-1, in Group H.
In the boy’s division, John Kendrick Bona beat Yo-Chi Chen of Chinese Taipei, 6-4, 7-5, to secure his first victory after bowing to Ryu Kotikula of Thailand, 4-6, 3-6, in Group B. In other results, qualifier Stephen Yu Fuertes outplayed Rafaello Xavier Munozco of Australia, 6-4, 6-4, in Group C; wild card Miguel Ricaro Lagac III triumphed over Aum Hiren Thakkar of Thailand, 2-6, 6-2 (10-3), in Group D; and Kenzo Marcus Brodeth won over qualifier Lakshya Bidhuri of Australia, 6-3, 6-2, in Group H.
