Takahashi ends Lim’s streak in Phinma tennis

MANILA, Philippines - Alberto Lim Jr.’s string of impressive victories came to an abrupt end yesterday when he fell to third seed Yusuke Takahashi, 4-6, 1-6, and crashed out of the semifinal race in the Phinma Internationals (Week Two) Juniors Tennis Championships at the Rizal Tennis Center.

Takahashi, who lost to Lim in last week’s finals of the event, 3-6, 3-6, asserted his might this time against the youngest participant in the meet, breaking the 13-year-old Lim once in the opening set before dominating the next for the win and a spot in the Final Four.

Lim, playing out of Letran, held his ground in the early going but just couldn’t hold off Takahashi’s charges and lost steam while trying to salvage the opening frame.

Takahashi, who earlier turned back Aussie qualifier Brian Tran, 1-6, 6-2, 6-1, goes for the finals berth today against fifth pick Ahmed Deedat Abdul Razak of Malaysia, who overwhelmed top seed Chen Wei Jen of Chinese Taipei, 6-2, 6-2.

Unseeded Shoma Kato of Japan also upended second seed Teeradon Tortrakul of Thailand, 6-4, 6-3, leaving compatriot Takahashi as the highest seeded bet in the event sponsored by Phinma and backed by Technifibre (official ball), Viva (official mineral water) and Powerade with the Philippine Sports Commission providing free use of the RMTC.

Kato, who fought back from a set down to repulse eighth ranked Daniel Nolan of Australia, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(5), last Wednesday, will face seventh seed Sora Fukuda of Japan, who bundled out No. 4 Chen Xin of China, 6-4, 6-2, in the other semis duel.

Lim’s fall also wiped out the Filipino bets in the last of two ranking tournaments sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association which the hosts dominated last week through Lim and Marian Capadocia’s sweep of the boys and girls titles.

Meanwhile, fancied Chabng Ya Ting of Chinese Taipei, No. 6 Tamachan Momkoonthod of Thailand, No. 4 Plobrung Plipuech of Thailand and Mo. 2 Miki Kobayashi of Japan all crashed out, leaving the battle for the girls’ crown wide open.

Chang fell to Japan’s Yukina Saigo, 6-0, 2-6, 5-7; Momkoonthod absorbed a 6-3, 0-6, 6-7(2) defeat at the hands of India’s Pranjala Yadlapalli; Plipuech bowed to Gabriella Umoquit of the US, 3-6, 4-6; and Kobayashi lost to Nozomi Ohya, 7-6(5), 5-7, 3-6.