Khim Iglupas finally got her redemption by crushing second pick Rika Tanaka of Japan, 6-0, 6-1, to rule the Phinma International Tennis Juniors Championships Week 2 yesterday at the Philippine Columbian Association claycourts in Paco, Manila.
The top-seeded Iglupas dropped only one game to win the crown as she showed her liking to shell court surface than the hard court at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.
Matches from Week 1 till the quarterfinals of Week 2 were played at the Rizal Memorial complex until foul weather forced the organizers to transfer the matches to the PCA courts.
In Week 1, the top seeded Iglupas lost to Taiwan’s Chang Ting-Pei in the semis, a defeat she said challenged her to give her all in Week 2 of the event also sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission. True enough, Iglupas played so well she humbled all her Japanese rivals.
Tanaka was Iglupas’ fourth Japanese victim as she beat Shiori Ito in the second round (6-4, 6-3), Ange Oby Kajuru in the quarters (6-3, 1-6, 6-4), and Shiho Tsukuda in the semis (6-4, 6-1).
Not only that as Iglupas and Taiwanese partner Lee Kuan Yi outplayed Tanaka and Rusa Fukutoku, 6-2, 6-7 (4), 10-7, to snag the doubles crown.
Meanwhile, Ryuta Ata, who ousted Filipino top seed Bryan Otico in the first round, completed his remarkable run by repulsing compatriot Keisuke Saitoh, 4-6, 6-1, 6-3, to snare the boys’ singles crown.
Otico, however, teamed up with Japan’s Seita Watanabe in beating Tomoya Ikeda and Saitoh, 6-4, 3-6, 10-5, for the boy’s doubles title.
