Mendoza last Phl netter standing

MANILA, Philippines - Rains held off Jurence Mendoza’s bid to get into the quarterfinal round of the 23rd Mitsubishi International Junior Championships with the Filipino netter hanging on to a 5-4 lead against No. 16 Liu Siyu of China in the opening set when organizers called off the match due to slippery condition at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center yesterday.

But Marian Jade Capadocia bowed out of the competition as she lost to third pick Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic, 2-6, 2-6, in the girls side of the event, leaving Mendoza the lone Filipino bet in the event.

The 16-year-old Capadocia, who stunned No. 14 Klaartje Liebens of Belgium, 6-3, 6-1, in the second round Wednesday, succumbed to a more-seasoned Krejcikova, who holds the No. 39 ranking in the International Tennis Federation world girls juniors rankings.

Mendoza is coming off a shock 6-1, 6-4 victory over fourth seed James Frawley, also the world’s No. 54, Wednesday and is all-fired up against Liu, who trounced Swiss Simeon Rossier, 7-5, 6-3.

Liu actually broke Mendoza in the third game but the latter broke back in the eighth before holding serve to gain the upperhand. The match will be resumed today.

A win by Mendoza, who had to survive a stubborn lucky loser Takashi Saito of Japan, 7-6 (5), 4-6, 6-1, to get past the opening round, will send the Olongapo native to the quarters against the winner between No. 10 Kang Ku Keon of Korea and another giant-slayer Jack Schipanski of Australia.

Krejcikova, on the other hand, takes on the winner between No. 9 Abbie Myers of Australia and No. 8 Nao Hibino of Japan, whose match was also delayed by rains.

Capadocia, meanwhile, teamed up with compatriot Tamitha Nguyen in turning back the Japanese pair of Natsumi Chimura and Kanami Tsuji in a marathon 6-4, 4-6, 10-8 win to advance to the second round in the girls’ doubles.

Upsets continued to rock the event as Krittin Koaykul of Thailand and Jordan Thompson of Australia toppled their respective seeded rivals to reach the Last 8 stage.

After slaying No. 6 Jay Andrijic of Australia, 7-6 (3), 6-1, the unseeded Koaykul bundled out No. 12 Jordan Angus of the United Kingdom, 7-5, 6-1, while No. 11 Thompson humbled fifth seed Chung Hyeon of Korea, 6-1, 6-4.

Top seed Nkola Milojevic of Serbia, meanwhile, defeated Jacob Grills of Australia, 6-3, 6-0, to set up a duel with another Aussie Omar Jasika, who downed Daniel Guccione, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3.