Fil-Viet gains Smart ITF 2nd round

MANILA, Philippines - Tamitha Nguyen pulled off a hard-earned 6-0, 6-7 (4), 6-4 victory over Chinese Zhou Ya yesterday to advance in the 2011 Smart-ITF Women’s Circuit Week at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

Nguyen recovered from a second set loss with solid returns to repulse Ya in a tough third set duel to join the other Filipino netters – Anna Clarice Patrimonio, Marian Jade Capadocia and Fil-German Katharina Lehnert – in the second round.

“It’s very exhausting but I was able to adjust from her serves and managed to return her attacks too,” said Nguyen, whose father is a Vietnamese and mother is a Filipina.

Patrimonio, Capadocia and Lehnert trampled their respective rivals to gain in the week-long tournament backed by the International Tennis Federation, Philippine Tennis Association, Smart Sports, International Terminal Container Service Inc. (ICTSI), Phinma Group of Companies, Head, the official balls, Viva Mineral Water, Powerade Energy Drink, Chris Sports and Philippine Sports Commission.

Other winners were Korean Sung Kim Hae, who defeated fellow Seung Yeon Hong, 7-6 (2), 6-0; American Sylvia Krywacz, who disposed of Ting Fei Juan of Taiwan, 6-2, 4-1 ret.; and Peangtarn Plipuech of Thailand, who whipped Ju Eun Kim of Korea, 6-0, 6-1.