Iglupas makes Phinma QF

MANILA, Philippines - Khim Iglupas sustained her form and came away with another straight-set romp, this time over Japanese Haruna Arakawa, 6-4, 6-2, to roll into the quarterfinal round of the girls’ singles Phinma International Juniors Tennis Championships at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center yesterday.

Iglupas, the 15-year-old mainstay of the Philippine Tennis Academy, broke Arakawa once in the opener then imposed her will in the next to clinch the win over the player who booted out No. 6 R. Kahfiani in the first round of the event sponsored by the Phinma Group of Companies and backed by the Philippine Sports Commission, Dunlop Fort All Court, Viva and Wilkins Mineral Water.

But the lone Filipina bet faces a tough assignment in her bid to barge into the semifinals as she slugs it out with top seed Chihiro Muramatsu, also of Japan, who showed too much class against Singapore’s Khee Yen Wee, 6-0, 6-1.

Japan also sent four more players into the Last 8 with Utaka Kishigami beating compatriot Shiori Fukuda, 6-2, 6-2; Ayaka Higashi trouncing Junsai Wang of China, 6-1, 6-2, Saya Ito disposing off Chinese Qi Li Ma, 6-1, 6-4; and Kikima Sakata repulsing compatriot Izumi Asano, 6-1, 4-6, 6-3.

Fil-Australian Melissa Esguerra, who bundled out top Filipina bet Roxanne Resma, 6-1, 6-1, in the first round, also advanced with 6-3, 6-2 romp over Yu Fujioka of Japan.

Some matches in the event, the first of two tournaments for the top junior players in the Asia-Pacific region and sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association, were halted due to rains.

John Decasa, the lone Filipino survivor in the boys’ side, was disputing a berth in the quarters with Taiwan’s Yi Wei Huang yesterday.