RP netters whip Phinma Jrs foes

MANILA, Philippines - Anna Clarice Patrimonio gifted herself a big birthday present as she downed qualifier Sari Baba of Japan, 7-5, 6-3, yesterday at resumption of the rain-interrupted first round of the Phinma Juniors International’s Week 1 at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center yesterday.

The victory came on the heels of the Filipino bets’ romp in the ITF Grade 4 tournament as top seed Francis Casey Alcantara rolled past Chinese Jan Nan Tao, 6-2, 6-2, while Kim Ivor Saraza pulled off a big upset over third seed Omar Elkheshen of Egypt, 7-5, 6-2, in the boys side late Tuesday.

Patrimonio, who turned 16 yesterday, will meet sixth seed Trang Huynh Phuong Dai of Vietnam, who made it through with a 6-3, 6-1 win over Rona Lavian of Israel, in the second round of the tournament sponsored by Phinma Group of Companies.

Leander Lazaro, 16, also advanced to the next round with a 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 win over German Louis Donczyk.

Alcantara flaunted his power game and came through with solid returns to dominate Tao and kick off his bid for a third crown in the event featuring some of the world’s future net stars.

The Australian Open Juniors doubles champion takes on Italy’s No. 2 player Antonio Marcarelli in the second round of the tournament backed by Tecnifibre Balls, Powerade, Viva Mineral Water, Century Park Hotel and the Philippine Sports Commission. Marcarelli booted out Thailand’s Sylvester Alamdar, 7-5, 6-1.

Anna Christine Patrimonio, meanwhile, survived Japanese Riko Sawayanagi, 6-3, 7-5, to make up for the string of setbacks suffered by three RP bets.