Capadocia stuns top seed in Phinma Juniors

MANILA, Philippines - Marian Capadocia surprised top seed Sri Vaishnavi Peddi Reddy of India with her power game and came away with a stirring 6-1, 6-2 victory to barge into the girls’ quarterfinals of the Phinma International Juniors Tennis Championships at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center yesterday.

Ranged against a taller rival ranked 238th in the world ITF junior rankings, Capadocia didn’t flinch and instead took control early with her A-game, hammering out winners and volleys to produce the tournament’s biggest win and boost her bid for the crown in the Grade Four, ranking tournament.

The 17-year-old find from San Jose, Antique, ranked No. 431 and last year’s Hong Kong Open Jrs champion and winner of the PCA 18-U singles and doubles (with Isabella Mendoza) titles, will next face No. 8 Ma Yi Chi of Taiwan for a berth in the semifinal round of the event sponsored by Technifibre (official ball), Viva (official mineral water) and Powerade (official energy drink).

Ma defeated Japan’s Kimika Sakata, 6-3, 7-6(4). 

But while Capadocia advanced, No. 4 Maika Tanpoco and Roxanne Resma dropped straight-set setbacks and missed the Last 8 of the event supported by the Philippine Sports Commission and sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association.

Tanpoco, who struggled past India’s Mahitha Dadi Reddy, 6-4, 7-5, in the first round, bowed to Britain’s Gabriella Taylor, 6-4, 6-2, while Resma, who fended off Nnena Nadozie of the US, 7-6(4), 6-4, Tuesday, lost to Thai Plobrung Plipuech, 6-1, 6-2.

Fil-Aussie Melissa Esguerra also fell to another Thai bet Tamathan Momkoonthod, 7-6(2), 6-2, leaving Capadocia as the lone Filipina bet in the event serving as the first of two tournaments lined up for some of the world’s leading junior players and upcoming stars.

Others who advanced to the quarters were Gabriella Umoquit of the US, who beat Taiwan’s Ya Ting Chang, 7-5, 6-0, Liza Rioux of Japan, who held off Anna Grigoryan of Russia, 6-4, 6-3, and Miki Kobasyashi of Japan, who saw off Pranjala Yadlapalli of India, 6-3, 6-2.

Meanwhile, Week 2 is slated Nov. 27-Dec. 2. For details, contact Loida Mallare at 0947-4554094. The tournament supervisor is Wannawit Srirasa of Thailand.