Top seed Fil-Am Denise Dy marched to the quarterfinals with a 6-3, 6-0 victory over Nikki de Dios yesterday as she remained on course for a back-to-back title bid in the 26th Philippine Columbian Association Tennis Open at the PCA courts in Plaza Dilao, Manila.
Second pick Bambi Zoleta and third-ranked Czarina Mae Arevalo likewise made it through the next round with the former winning after Bacolod City native Alyssa Labay retired due to cramps, 6-2, 5-0 (Ret.), and the latter whitewashing Sherley Valler, 6-0, 6-0.
Dy, spearhead of the RP squad seeing action in the 24th Southeast Asian Games next month in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, battles No. 6 Aileen Rogan, who booted out qualifier Anna Soriano, 6-2, 6-2, in the next round of this event backed by The Philippine STAR, Hewlett Packard, Accel, Dunlop, Seno Hardware, Burlington, PVL Restaurant, Tobi Peanuts, Kraut Art Glass, Pixel Project and Universal Paint.
Eighth seed Bien Zoleta, an 18-year-old St. Benilde student, repulsed Enah Baba, 6-4, 3-6, 6-0, to arrange a showdown with 15-year-old sis Bambi in today’s quarterfinals of this tournament staking a total cash pot of P400,000.
Arevalo, the country’s former No. 1 lady netter, will be tackling comebacking Tracy Santos, a former Federation Cupper who stunned No. 7 Trudy Amoranto, 6-3, 6-1.
Arevalo, a former three-time winner here, was Santos’ teammate when they copped the doubles crown four years ago.
No. 4 Arra Micayabas downed Reggie Santiago, 7-5, 6-4, while No. 5 Michelle Pang whipped qualifier Allysa Callejo, 6-2, 6-0, to arrange a quarterfinal duel.
In men’s action, third seed Rolando Ruel Jr. barged into the round-of-eight when No. 14 Ronald Joven retired after the first set, 7-6 (2), while unheralded Joel Palao advanced as No. 11 Pablo Olivarez sustained cramps and withdrew while leading, 3-6, 6-3, 1-2.
Also advancing were No. 6 Elbert Anasta, who bested Chung Soo Han, 6-1, 6-1, and No. 8 Ralph Kevin Barte, who eliminated Michael Basco, 6-3, 6-4.