FORMER Philippine No.1 Marian Jade Capadocia and Austrian partner Anna-Lena Neuwirth reached the women’s doubles semifinals of the US$15,000 International Tennis Federation Women’s Circuit Amstelveen event in the Netherlands.
Both unranked in the main draw, Capadocia and Neuwirth pulled off a stunning 6-0, 3-6, 10-3 win against the German tandem of Dominique Heinrichs and Jennifer Wacker to move into the quarterfinals opposite Stephanie Mariel Petit of Argentina and Ana Sofia Sanchez of Mexico.
Capadocia, a two-time Philippine Columbian Association Open champion, and Neuwirth made it to the semifinals via walkover.
Playing against regular campaigner Emily Arbuthnot of Britain and Belinda Woolcock of Australia, Capadocia and Neuwirth, however, absorbed a 6-1, 6-3 defeat in the semifinals.
“Nakakahinayang, pero ganoon po talaga. Okey lang po may mga susunod pa naman pong Circuit events,” said Capadocia, who earned 8 points or equivalent to 2,400 local points in the ITF doubles’ rankings.
In the 64-man main draw in the singles’ competition of the event, the 21-year-old Arellano University mainstay managed to draw attention as she reached Round 3 with two contrasting victories.
The veteran SEA Games campaigner easily disposed off hometown bet Sopphia Grippo, 6-2, 6-0, before beating the tough Neuwirth, 6-7 (3), 7-5, 6-3.
Capadocia, who was also backed by Dunlop and coached by her father Joe, succumbed to Meritxell Perera Ros of Spain, 7-5, 6-3, in their Round 3 encounter.
For her effort, Capadocia earned 6 ITF points or equivalent to 1,800 points in the local rankings.
“Hindi pa rin po nawawala ang pag-asa ko na maipagpatuloy ang kampanya ko sa international circuit hangga’t may mga taong tumutulong at naniniwala sa kakayahan ko,” said the pride of San Jose, Antique in her Facebook account.
The Philippine Sports Commission, headed by Chairman William ‘Butch Ramirez, shouldered Capadocia’s allowances and training expenses after the troubled Philippine Tennis Association dropped her from the National Team, despite her current status as the country’s best female tennis player.
“Right now, hindi ko na po masyadong dinaramdam ‘yung resulta ng pulitika sa Philta. Nariyan pan naman si Chairman Ramirez na kumikilala sa mga local at homegrown player,” she said.