Hurting Zoleta foils Patrimonio in final

MANILA, Philippines -  Bambi Zoleta pulled off a stunning 7-6 (5), 2-6, 7-6 (4) victory over top-ranked Christine Patrimonio to capture the women’s singles crown in the first Olivarez-Philta Open Tennis Championship at the Olivarez Sports Center in Sucat over the weekend.

Zoleta, 19, bucked a foot injury midway in the match and hung tough in the decider to humble Patrimonio and claim the top P30,000 purse.

“I felt a little bit dizzy in the second set but didn’t give up,” said Zoleta, the 2008 Philippine Columbian Association Open champion, in Filipino.

Top seed Johnny Arcilla, on the other hand, played true to form and disposed of Joseph Victorino, 6-3, 6-1, 6-1, to bag the men’s singles crown worth P80,000.

Victorino took home P40,000 in the tournament backed by Dunlop and sanctioned by the Philippine Lawn Tennis Association (Philta) headed by Rep. Edwin Olivarez Jr.