Coyiuto on course for main draw

MANILA, Philippines - Samantha Mae Coyiuto stayed in the hunt for a spot in the main draw while the other local bets faltered in the first round of the 22nd Mitsubishi-Lancer International Junior Championships qualifying at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center yesterday.

A 16-year-old netter and author, Coyiuto found herself paired against compatriot Maria Angela Sunga and hacked out a 6-4, 6-0 victory to emerge as the lone Phl survivor in the two-day qualifier for the Grade 1 netfest.

Standing between Coyiuto and a berth is Belgian top seed and world No. 213 Justine De Sutter, who took a bye.

Sisters Isabella and Katrina Orteza failed to advance to today’s final round after yielding to separate foreign rivals. Isabella, the Andrada Cup 14-Under champion, dropped a 1-6, 2-6 setback to Belgian ninth seed Kimberley Zimmerman while Katrina bowed to Korean No. 10 Song Ah, 2-6, 2-6.

A third Orteza bet, Patricia Joy, was battling Canadian No. 11 Elianne Douglas-Miron at presstime, for the right to face Japanese No. 3 Haine Ogata.

The local crew in the boys’ singles qualifying was totally wiped out, thrashing their bid to join world No. 10 and top seed Jeson Patrombon in the main action that begins Tuesday.

Joel Cabusas lost to Chinese No. 9 Wang Luyao, 2-6, 2-6, while Romnee Kyle Joseph fell to Taiwanese No. 5 Ho Chih-Jen, 0-6, 0-6, and Romain Lepoutre sputtered against Australian No. 11 Mark Richards, 0-6, 0-6.