Olivarez, Lim gain in Asia U-14

MANILA, Philippines - Eric Olivarez Jr. and Alberto Lim Jr. fashioned out a pair of straight-set victories to remain in the hunt even as No. 11 Fil-Am Meredith Jones fell by the wayside in the ITF Asia 14 and Under Development Championships–Division I Week 2 at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

Olivarez, the best placed Filipino at No. 12 in Week 1 of the event last week, turned back a stubborn Anthony Jackie Tang of Hong Kong, 6-3, 7-5, while Lim overpowered Liu Hu of China, 6-1, 6-1, in the rain-delayed opening round Monday.

Olivarez is set to face No. 8 Wang Hisang Yi of Chinese Taipei, who edged Igor Barzasekov of Turkmenistan in a marathon 7-5, 4-6, 11-9 decision, at presstime while Lim is slated to take on No. 4 Wu Tung Lin also of Chinese Taipei, a 6-0, 6-1 winner over Hendrawan Susanto.

Jones, meanwhile, bowed to No. 6 Napharat Sawangkaew of Thailand, 3-6, 4-6, and dropped out of title contention in the event put up by the International Tennis Federation Grand Slam Development Fund and sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association.

Sawangkaew, who pummeled Ip Wai Lam of Hong Kong, 6-1, 6-0, in Monday’s first round, thus advanced to the quarterfinal round against the winner between No. 3 Pranjala Yadlapalli of India and Arrum Damarsari of Indonesia.

Yadlapalli, a semifinalist last week, came back to beat the Phl’s Maia Bernadette Balce, 7-6 (2), 6-4, while Damarsari stunned No. 14 Kamila Umarova of Uzbekistan, 7-6 (1), 2-6, 10-8.

Joining Samangkaew in the Last 8 is No. 9 Bae Dohee of Korea, who outclassed No. 7 Gozal Ainitdinova of Kazakhstan, 6-1, 6-2.