Arevalo shocks seeded Japanese

Czarina Mae Arevalo of the Philippines recovered from a first set loss to beat No. 5 seed Mari Inoue of Japan, 2-6, 6-2, 6-2, to enter the quarterfinals of the Union Cement ITF Women’s Circuit at the Ynares Socio-Cultural Sports Center in Pasig City yesterday.

Arevalo, who has just returned from the Afro-Asian Games in Hyderabad, India where she won four bronze medals, was dominant in the final two sets to score her first win over the Japanese in three meetings. After losing the second set, Inoue took a break hoping to ease Arevalo’s momentum and seemed to succeed when she won the first two games of the final set. But Arevalo won six straight games to seal the match in front of a very appreciative home audience.

In the quarterfinals today, she will meet Croatian Marija Abramovic who beat second seed I-Ting Wang of Taipei, 6-4, 6-3, in this event supported by the ITF Grand Slam Development Fund, Wilson Balls, Viva Mineral Water, Holiday Inn Manila Galleria and the Asian Sports Management, Inc.

"I am playing better because I have regained my confidence after the Afro-Asian Games," said Arevalo.

In other matches, Indonesian third seed Liza Andriyani beat Korean qualifier Mi Lyoo, 7-5, 6-3, fourth seed Julianto Diana also of Indonesia beat Korean Eun Hee Sung, 6-1, 6-1, qualifier Yi Chen of Taipei beat Kim Ji Young of Korea, 6-3, 6-0, and the only Korean survivor So Jung-Kim beat Indonesian eighth seed Septi Mende, 6-3, 6-2.

The last singles match between seventh seed Sandy Gumulya of Indonesia and Korean qualifier Soon Mi Soo was still being played at presstime.

Today’s singles and doubles quarterfinals start at 10 a.m.