Mendoza trips 2 foes, duels Serb in semis

MANILA, Philippines - Jurence Zosimo Mendoza endured two hard-fought matches, including two tiebreakers, to barge into the semifinal round of the 23rd Mitsubishi International Junior Championships at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center yesterday.

Mendoza, 15, fought two tiebreakers and won both to pull the rug from under power-hitting 16th seed Liu Siyu of China, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (4), at the resumption of their rain-postponed match Thursday that stretched through three hours.

He came back after just an hour of rest to trounce Australia’s Jack Schipanski, 6-3 6-3, in their quarterfinal duel to set up a semis showdown with top seed Nikola Milojevic of Serbia.

Milojevic ousted Aussie Omar Jasika, 6-3, 6-2.

Mendoza, however, failed to advance in the doubles as he and partner Nikko Madregallejo of the US dropped a 6-3, 6-4 loss to the Australian tandem of Harry Bourchier and James Frawley, the fourth-seeded player he eliminated, 6-1, 6-4, in Wednesday’s second round.

“It was a mental exercise for me, playing those grueling matches with just an hour rest in between,” said Mendoza, member of the Phl Davis Cup team that routed Pacific Oceania, 5-0, in their Asia-Oceania Group II tie in Iriga City last month.

Another victory would send Mendoza closer to matching Davis Cup mainstay Jeson Patrombon’s feat of making the finals in last year’s edition of this annual tournament open to netters under 18 years sponsored by Mitsubishi Motors. Patrombon, however, lost the crown to Aussie Andrew Whittington.

No Filipino has won in the 23-year-old tournament although Maricris Fernandez (1995 and 1997) and Francesca La’O (1991 and 1994) and Jennifer Saret (1992) have won in the distaff side.

But against Milojevic, Mendoza would need a lot of power, stamina and grit.

Milojevic, coming off a victory in a Grade One tournament in Kuching, Malaysia last week to move up to No. 7 in the world junior ranking, is out to keep his domination of Mendoza, whom he beat, 7-6 (4), 6-1, in the second round of a tournament in Nonthaburi, Thailand two weeks ago.

“I’ve lost to him when we first met and he is now ranked seventh in the world,” said Mendoza of his match with the big-hitting Serbian. “I know how he plays and with the confidence I’m getting in this tournament, I know I have a strong chance against him.”

After winning the first set tiebreaker against Liu, Mendoza appeared headed for a cruise after seizing a 5-3 lead in the second frame.

But he got a little nervous and lost his focus, enabling Liu to get back behind his strong serves and power game. Liu broke Mendoza once while holding serve twice to snatch a 6-5 lead.

But Mendoza recovered his bearing in time, holding serve in the 12th game to force a tiebreaker before breaking from a 4-all count behind razor-sharp forehands that Liu failed to return.

“It helped me a lot that I won that one in straight sets because it would be tough to play an extra set,” said Mendoza.

It did as Mendoza showed up fresh against a well-rested Schipanski, who just couldn’t handle the Filipino ace’s booming forehands.

As Schipanski’s two-handed return sailed long, Mendoza, who blew two match points, faced the crowd, raised his two arms and yelled “Come On” before shaking hands with the Aussie at center court.

No. 11 Jordan Thompson turned back countryman Bourchier, a qualifier, 7-6 (4), 6-3, while unseeded Krittin Koaykul of Thailand humbled No. 13 Jordan Tucker Daigle of the US, 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (5), to arrange the other semis duel.

In the girls’ side, Australian qualifier Storm Sanders, who booted out top seed Elizaveta Kulichkova of Russia, 6-3, 6-3, the other day, kept her big run as she turned back Mami Adachi of Japan, 6-1, 2-6, 6-2, to advance to the quarters.

There, Sanders will face No. 11 Oleksandra Korashvili of Ukraine, who won her rain-delayed match with Japanese qualifier Natsuho Arakawa, 6-1, 4-6, 6-1.

Also advancing were No. 8 Nao Hibino of Japan, who dumped No. 9 Abbie Myers of Australia, 6-2, 6-0, No. 6 Aldila Sutjiadi of Indonesia, who advanced after Kanami Tsuji of Japan quit after leading, 7-5, 2-1, due to stomach ache, No. 4 Anna Tyulpa of Russia, a 6-4, 6-0 winner over Zhang Yuxuan of China, and No. 7 Rutuja Bhosale of India, who trounced No. 10 Ayaka Okuno of Japan, 6-4, 6-1.