Kuching: Filipino Tennnielle Madis and Australian Jizzelle Sibai advanced to the second round of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) J300 Kuching doubles event after defeating Japanese duo Yuzuha Negishi and Riyo Yoshida, 6-4, 6-2, on Wednesday at the Sarawak Lawn Tennis Association court in Malaysia. Their next opponents will be the No. 7 seeded Chinese team, Zhang-Qian Wei and Shiyu Ye, who received a bye in the first round.
According to Philippines News Agency, in the singles category, Madis faced a tough match against No. 9 Russian Anastasia Lizunova and was defeated 1-6, 6-7 (3) in the second round. Lizunova is set to compete against New Zealand's Aishi Das, who ousted No. 6 seed Renee Alame of Australia with scores of 7-5, 2-6, 6-3.
In other singles matches, top-seeded Reina Goto, No. 2 Kanon Sawashiro, and Yui Komada of Japan progressed to the next round. Goto defeated Kimiko Cooper from Australia 6-2, 6-2, Sawashiro overcame Albina Kakenova of Kazakhstan 6-3, 7-6 (4), and Komada surprised No. 8 seed Ada Kumru of Turkey with a victory of 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.
Additional winners included No. 4 Kamonwan Yodpetch of Thailand, who beat Shiyu Ye of China 6-1, 6-4; No. 5 Polina Kuharenko of Belarus, who won against Russian qualifier Nelli Ivanova 6-0, 4-6, 6-3; and No. 7 Yuyao Li of China, who defeated Japanese qualifier Riho Goto 6-2, 6-4.
Previously, Madis and her Russian partner Alexandra Malova reached the final round of the J200 event in Kuala Lumpur, where they were defeated by Australian siblings Renee and Rianna Alame, 1-6, 2-6.
PTA head coach Robert Angelo commented on Madis's performance, stating, "She fought well in the singles despite the sweltering weather here. She has not fully recovered from the cramps in the first round. Lizunova played very well, it was a good match." Angelo expressed optimism for Madis's upcoming doubles play and her chances of earning points in the Thailand tournament next week.
The Nonthaburi Closed Regional Championships is scheduled from April 28 to May 3. Madis began 2025 with two doubles titles in the United Arab Emirates in January, and last year, she secured five doubles titles, including four with PTA teammate Stefi Marithe Aludo in J60 events in Manila, China, Thailand, and Sri Lanka.
