Japanese sweep Phinma singles titles

MANILA, Philippines - Yusuke Takahashi and Nozomi Ohya pulled off come-from-behind victories to complete Japan’s sweep of the singles crowns in the Phinma International Juniors (Week 2) Tennis Championships at the Rizal Tennis Center yesterday.

The third-seeded Takahashi bucked a first set defeat and repulsed compatriot No. 7 Sora Fukuda, 4-6, 6-1, 6-1, in the boys finals while Ohya survived a first set meltdown to beat Yukina Saigo, 3-6, 7-6 (6), 7-5, in the girls’ side as the Japanese matched the Philippines’ feat last week when Alberto Lim Jr. and Marian Capadocia swept the singles titles.

It was a sweet victory for Takahashi, whom the 13-year-old Lim humbled in Week One finals while Ohya hopes to crack the top 1,000 after her triumph, capped by a shock 6-7(5), 7-5, 6-3 win over No. 2 Miki Kobayashi in the event sponsored by Phinma and backed by Technifibre, Viva and Powerade with the Philippine Sports Commission providing free use of the RMTC.

Meanwhile, Capadocia and Kobayashi turned back Ohya and Saigo, 3-6, 6-2, 12-10, to bag the girls’ doubles crown last Saturday.

“It’s sweet to win in the singles last week and now the doubles,” said the 17-year-old Capadocia, who is seeking an athletic scholarship in US NCAA Division I schools next school year.

The Kobayashi-Capadocia tandem also went through the full, three-set rout against Chinese Taipei’s Chang Ya Ting and Chen Han Chi, 6-4, 6-7(5), 10-6 in Tuesday’s first round.

The two then ran over their next foes in Japan’s Konomi Shida and Russia’s Flyora Shiyanova, 6-1, 6-2, in Wednesday’s second round and Russia’s Anna Grigoryan and Japan’s Miyo Kobayashi, 6-1, 6-1, in the semis.