MANILA, Philippines - Ten-year-old American Nicole Coppersmith from Florida, copped two titles in the recent 2009 Milo Junior Tennis Junior Cup held in San Beda, Alabang.
Coppersmith, eldest child of tennis couple Maja Palaversic and Roy Coppersmith, swept all her matches in two divisions, beating Frances Angel Santiago, 6-2, 6-0 in the 10-under Unisex finals and Bianca Cruz, 6-3, 6-3 in the 12-under girls finals.
Sharing the limelight with Coppersmith were Eric Olivarez Jr. who grabbed the 12-under boys title over Daniel Villaseñor in a tiebreaker, 3-6, 6-4, 10-7; Christian San Andres who won the 12-under boys title with a 6-4, 5-7, 10-6 score over Daniel Villaseñor, Renz Ma, winner of the 16-under boys plum over Nicolas Cano, 6-4, 0-6, 10-7; and Richard Martinez who nabbed the 18-under boys crown against Raprap Villegas, 6-3, 6-3.
On the distaff side, Maia Balce captured the 14-under girls title by besting Bea Ebriaga, 6-4, 6-3; Samantha Cuyuito won the 16-under girls trophy over Bea Ebriaga, 6-0, 6-0; and Louise Lopez who captured the 18-under girls crown against Macrine Mijares, 6-2, 6-1.
Now on its 22nd year, the MILO Junior Tennis Cup featured the country’s top young netters and served as the culminating activity for the MILO Junior Tennis programs, a series of nationwide competitions for age groupers. It was held in line with the continuing commitment of MILO to help build champions in sports and in life.