Capadocia, Tan Ho clinch doubles

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines salvaged some pride in the Tan Ho Cup Asian 14-under Tennis Series when Mary Jade Capadocia and Cathrina Jasmine Tan Ho bagged the girls’ doubles crown at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

Capadocia and Ho, the top-seeded pair, got off to a very good start but wavered a bit before pulling off a 7-6 (5), 7-6 (4) win over the taller Chinese Taipei tandem of Hsu Chung-Wen and Chu Chin-Hsieh.

Capadocia and Ho, a promising netter like her sibling Joshua Tan Ho, led 5-2 and was dragged into a tiebreak in the first set. The second set was a lot tighter. But the local pair won in the end.

The victory enabled Capadocia to avenge her bitter 6-0, 6-3 loss to Hsu in the singles semis. In that match, the Taiwanese was all over the Filipina, especially when it came to disputing line shots.

The loss to Hsu in the singles semis and a swollen right pointing finger did not stop Capadocia from giving her best in the doubles finals. She played wonderful music with Ho, her new partner.

Hsu and Chu figured in an all-Taiwanese finals in girls’ singles yesterday, and the former prevailed, 6-1, 6-2.

Chung Hun Wong of Hong Kong ran away with the boys’ singles title after beating Filipino Jurence Zosimo Mendoza, 6-4, 6-4, in the tournament that offered ranking points from the Asian Tennis Federation.

The skinny 14-year-old from Hong Kong, the second seed in boys’ singles, recovered from a 0-4 deficit to take the first set, and then again from a 4-2 deficit in the second frame.

Wong, who lost to Mendoza the last time they clashed, was rewarded with 300 ATF points to boost his chances at earning a scholarship from the federation. Mendoza settled for 200 points.

There are 21 legs in this series, and the top eight players from the boys and girls divisions will earn scholarship. They must play in at least six legs because only their top six finishes will count in the race.