FILIPINA Jessica Agra and Maria Mayoral Estrada of Spain bowed to Kazahstan’s Albina Khabibulina and Constanza Kokorelis, 3-6, 3-6, in the women’s doubles final on Sunday night at the Asia Pacific Padel Tour (APPT) Bali Open in Indonesia.
Seeking her second pro women’s title after ruling the Phuket Open a month ago, Agra and Estrada settled for the silver finish in the Asian tour for professional players of this growing racket sport of Mexican origin.
“They lost in the final. But it was a good run, though,” said Jessica’s father, Atty. Alberto Agra, in a message to this writer.
The top-seeded pair reached the final after disposing of Indonesians Karyn Emeralda Komang Sri Maryati , 6-2, 6-2 in the semifinals.
Agra and Estrada took an opening round bye, then defeated Kim Ben Attar of France and Alena Vasileva of Russia, 6-1, 6-4 in the quarterfinals.
Agra, a former world top 200 junior tennis player, is on the brink of seizing the top spot in the Asia Pacific Padel Tour rankings from Spain’s Patricia Garcia Calderato.
With only 220 points separating them, Agra’s consistent performance hints at a promising ascent in the rankings.
Meanwhile, Senator Pia Cayetano, president of Padel Pilipinas, and Joanna Tao Yee absorbed a 1-6, 0-6, loss to Khabibulina and Kokorelis in the quarters.
Another Filipino pair, Bambi Zoleta and Irina Chernaya, also exited in the quarters, falling to Emeralda and Maryati, 4-6, 3-6.
