Korean netters seal title clash in Asian Jrs

MANILA, Philippines - Chan Yeong Oh and Yun Seong Chung bucked sweltering heat and thwarted their respective rivals to forge an all-Korean showdown in the boys’ division of the International Tennis Federation’s Asia 14 and Under Development Championships–Division I at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center yesterday.

The top-seeded Oh survived a fierce first set challenge put up by fourth pick Ting Hui Zhang of China and hacked out a 7-5, 6-1 victory while Chung survived a tough first-set duel to shock No. 2 Tung Lin Wu of Chinese Taipei, 7-6 (4), 6-4 win.

In girls play, fifth seed Cao Si Qi overpowered fellow Chinese Yan Qian Ting, 6-1, 6-1, to barge into the girls’ finals of the event put up by the International Tennis Federation and sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association.

The taller Cao dominated Yan with precise shots, scoring a string of winners to dispose of the player who stunned second seed Bae Dohoee of Korea, 7-5, 5-7, 6-2, in the third round in just an hour.

Top seed Li Yue Nv also made it an all-Chinese finals in the girls side after besting Pranjala Yadlapalli of India, 6-7 (5), 7-6 (4), 7-5, in the other semis clash.

In girls’ doubles, No. 2 Bae Dohee and Um Seon Young of Korea edged Kuo Pei Hsuan of Chinese Taipei and Yan Qian Ting of China in a marathon 4-1, 0-4, 12-10 decision to advance to the semis of the event backed by the Philippine Tennis Academy, Mariposa Foundation, Dunlop Fort Balls, Magnolia Purewater and Century Park Hotel.  

Manita Bootsarakomvisit and Napharat Sawangkaew of Thailand took the other berth with a walkover win over Jacinta Yuan Sze Chen of Hong Kong and Aulia Rosma Pramudani of Indonesia.

Fancied Chung Yun Seong and Oh Chan Yeong of Korea and Meng Cing Yang and Wu Tung Lin of Chinese Taipei, meanwhile, headed for a title clash after routing their respective rivals.

Chung and Oh smashed Ulugbek Fayzullaev of Uzbekistan and Adi Kaliakperov of Kazakhstan, 4-1, 4-0, while Meng and Wu eliminated Aryan Goveas of India and Anthony Jackie Tang of Hong Kong, 4-0, 4-1, to roll into the quarters.

Chung and Oh take on No. 7 Lok Pui Lawrence Lo and Hong Kit Wong of Hong Kong, who won via default over Ma Teng of China and Wang Hisang Yi of Chinese Taipei, while Meng and Wu will face No. 6 Liu Hu and Zhang Ting Hui of China.