Patrimonio sisters last RP bets standing in Phinma tennis

Three more RP netters fell to foreign opponents which left the Patrimonio sistes, Anna Christine and Anna Clarice, as the only hopefuls in the first round of the Phinma Juniors International’s Week I at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center. Patricia Joy Orteza absorbed a 6-3, 4-6, 4-6, heartbreaker against Thailand’s Nahathnai Khuntaket while Marian Jane Capadocia and Tamitha Nguyen suffered straight-set defeats to top seed Japan’s Yuki Ito, 2-6, 1-6, and China’s Xhao Qiangian, 1-6, 0-6, respectively. Anna Christine was playing Japanese Riko Sawayanagi while the younger Anna Clarice was paired with another Japan bet, qualifier Sari Baba as of posting time. Unheralded Belgian Justin de Sutter pulled off the biggest upset of the day by stunning fourth seed Rana Sherif Ahmed of Egypt, 6-3, 2-6, 6-0, to arrange a second round showdown with Khuntaket. Fancied Trang Huynh Phuong Dai of Vietnam downed Rona Lavian, 6-3, 6-1, while Anna Tyulpa of Russia walloped Valeria Patiuk, 6-1, 7-6 (3) to likewise advance to the next round. Lietchenstein's Kathinka Von Deichmann also prevailed against Thailand's Rongrong Leenabanchong, 6-3, 6-2. Focus will be on RP top junior netter Francis Casey Alcantara, who assumed the top seeding following the last-minute withdrawal by Hsieh Cheng-peng of Taiwan. Alcantara was battling Jun Nan Tao of China as of posting time while Akio Sy dropped a 0-6, 4-6 loss to Korean Hyo Chung Woo in the only other result in the boys’ side of the tournament. – Adrian Flores, GMANews.TV