Manila: Second seed Ryu Kotikula of Thailand and unseeded Daksh Kukreti of India downed their rivals Saturday to arrange a boys' singles title duel in the Oscar J. Hilado J60 World Tennis Championship Week 1 at Rizal Memorial Tennis Center in Manila.
According to Philippines News Agency, the 17-year-old Kotikula prevailed over Aaradhya Mhasde of India, 6-0, 6-4, while Kukreti pulled off a 2-6, 6-0, 6-2 victory over compatriot and seventh seed Ribhav Saroha. In the girls' division, top seed Yerin Lee of Korea defeated Sorvisa Kulphisanrat of Thailand, 6-1, 6-2, to advance to the final against Taylah Lessue of Australia. The second-seeded Lessue downed fourth seed Seojin Park, 6-4, 6-3.
Meanwhile, top seeds Kotikula and compatriot Dharma Pantaratorn beat Australians Rafaello Xavier Munozco and Yuma Takechi, 6-1, 6-3, to reach the boys' doubles quarterfinal in the event offering World Tennis points. Other winners were second seeds Weibo Huang and Bing-Huan Tsai of Chinese Taipei; third seeds Kousuke Ko of Chinese Taipei and Saroha; and fourth seeds Kukreti and Vivaan Bidasaria.
In the girls' doubles, fourth seeds Ai Shin Huang of Chinese Taipei and Han Frida Siu of Hong Kong outplayed American Sofia Bartolata and Filipino Maria Astrid Cablitas, 6-3, 7-6 (6), to secure a semifinal berth.
Now on its 18th edition, the annual tournament formerly known as Phinma International Junior Tennis Championships was renamed in honor of the late Phinma Corp. chair emeritus Oscar J. Hilado in recognition of his contributions to Philippine tennis. Past champions include Alexandra Eala, Francis Casey Alcantara, John Bryan Otico, Arthur Craig Pantino, Khim Iglupas, Tennielle Madis, and Stefi Marithe Aludo.
