Lajola finishes strong vs Austrian

Stung by an Austrian rival in the early going, Fil-Am Dennis Lajola did the next best thing yesterday — show his true worth.

Lajola, who represented the US in the Davis Cup age group and has won a consolation championship in the USTA National Junior Open in Oahu last year, overcame a sputtering start and needed to unleash winners after winners in the next two sets to trounce Kristofer Wachter and pull off a 5-7, 6-3, 6-1 victory at the start of the 16th Mitsubishi Lancer ITF Juniors Tennis Championships at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

Displaying the form that made him one of the best netters in the United States in his age bracket, Lajola overwhelmed the world No. 137 Wachter with big serves and rallies in the last two frames which he dominated that more than made up for his lackluster start.

Nicknamed the "Flyin’ Hawaiian," Lajola needed a little more than one-and-a-half hour to bundle out Wachter and set up a second round clash with 14th seed Lee Hsin Han of Chinese Taipei today.

Against the Taiwanese, the 5-foot-7 Lajola, on a full scholarship at the prestigious Bolletari Tennis Academy in Florida, is expected to play more solid in a bid to sustain his march in this annual event sponsored by Mitsubishi Motors Phils. Inc.

Not to be outdone, four homegrown talents, led by the country’s top netter Kyle Joshua Dandan, also made it through the opening round.

Dandan, who was picked by the ITF as member of the Asian Training Team set to participate in camps and tournaments in Italy and France from May to July, downed Christian Canlas, 6-2, 6-0.

Also advancing were Miguel Narvaez, who blanked Angelo Patrimonio, son of retired basketball star Alvin Patrimonio, 6-0, 6-0; the same score posted by Mestor Celestino Jr. in ousting Russel Arcilla Jr.; and Pablo Olivarez II defeated Joshua Tan Ho, 6-4, 6-1.

Only wildcard entry Michael Basco pulled off a win over a foreigner, beating top qualifier Michal Motyka of Slovakia after the latter retired with the former way ahead, 6-4, 3-0.

However, Nico Reigo de Dios bowed to Great Britain’s Christopher Llewellyn, 6-3, 6-4; so did Jandrick de Castro, who lost to Johnny Hamui of the US, 6-0, 6-1, and Ralph Kevin Barte, who fell to Canada’s Jonathan David, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.

Other first round winners were Philip Therp of Denmark, Samuel Groth of Australia, Ruben Bemelmans of Belgium, Chris Eaton of Great Britain, Charl Wolmarans of South Africa, Shuhei Uzawa of Japan and Gregory Gumbs of France.

Therp edged Briton Edward Corrie, 6-1, 2-6, 7-6 (3); Groth outlasted Taiwanese Lien Chia Chu, 7-5, 6-4; Bemelmans smashed Austrian Richard Rucklehausen, 6-0, 6-4; Eaton survived German Victor Schmid, 6-4, 4-6, 6-1; Wolmarans bashed South African Marcel Goodman, 6-4, 6-1; Uzawa clobbered Belgian Michiel Antheunis, 6-0, 6-2; and Gumbs blasted Thai Perakiat Siriluthaiwat, 6-2, 6-1.

All the 16 seeded players in the boys division spearhead by No. 1 Vivek Shokeen of India and No. 2 Myles Blake of Great Britain drew first round byes.

Early winners on the distaff side were Russian Maya Gaverova over Belgian Desiree Bastianon, 6-2, 6-3 and Filipina Michelle Pang over Japanese Lisa Yoshida, 6-1, 6-2.