Shaira Rivera and Frances Santiago scored contrasting victories yesterday to march into the second round of the Phinma International Juniors Tennis Championships Week 2 at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.
The 17-year-old Rivera, who made it to the quarterfinals in Week 1, recovered from a slow start and survived Japanese qualifier Kanon Yasumoto, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1, while Santiago, a wildcard entry, cruised to a quick 6-4, 6-1 triumph over qualifier Tameka Peterson of Trinidad & Tobago.
Rivera’s victory earned her a second-round meeting with Week 1 winner Lee Kuan Yi of Chinese Taipei, who disposed of Indonesia’s Samantha Nanere.
Santiago, likewise, has a tough assignment as she clashes next with sixth seed Li Xuanjin of China, who pummeled American Skyler Holm, 6-2, 6-1.
Other female local bets, however, bowed to their respective foreign rivals.
Wildcard bet Janelle Llavore lost to Wang Chao-Yi of Chinese Taipei, 6-2, 6-2; Monica Cruz yielded to Japan’s Rika Tanaka, 6-0, 6-1; Rafaella Villanueva absorbed a 6-1, 6-2 defeat over United States’ Jordan Harris; and Gennifer Pagente lost to China’s Yang Jing Jing, 6-2, 6-1.
Meanwhile, top seed Khim Iglupas battles Australia’s Ivana Popovic as she hopes to eclipse her semifinal finish in Week 1.
In boys’ singles, Fil-Spaniard Diego Dalisay forfeited his second round match against Japanese fifth seed Kazuki Shimizu due to a sprained left ankle.