TOP SEED Marc Andrei Jarata overcame a slow start to turn back Lance Fernandez, 5-7, 6-2, 10-6, yesterday in the boys’ 14-under division of the 29th Andrada Cup age-group tennis tournament at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.
Jarata, of Agoo in La Union, appeared to be in danger after yielding the first set. But he went to work in the second and won the super tiebreak in the third to advance to the quarterfinals of the premier class.
Focus is on the boys’ and girls’ 14-under divisions because it’s where the Philippine Tennis Association headed by Atty. Antonio Cablitas draws candidates for the Junior Davis Cup, Junior Fed Cup and the World Junior Tennis Championships.
Action in the girls’ divisions gets going today.
Joining Jarata in the next round are No. 8 Samuel Rean Nuguit, a 6-1, 6-1 winner over No. 5 Jude Hidalgo, then Keno Enriquez and Lukas Yupangco, winners via walkover.
In the boys’ 18-under class, second seed Jules Lazaro held off training partner Loucas Fernandez, 6-4, 7-5 while Darryljon Alano survived Jerome Ignacio III, 4-6, 6-4, 10-3. Genemar Gerrick Zuno advanced via walkover.
Lazaro withstood the windy conditions at the open courts of the RMSC, giving the young players difficulty with their serves and placement shots.
“I made the adjustment. I hit the ball harder and shorter and into the mid-court. It was a tough match to play,” said Lazaro after winning the battle between two players who wore almost identical clothes.
“We’re friends and we talked about wearing neon colors,” said Lazaro, adding that Fernandez, from Quezon City, also trains under the former’s father, Alex Lazaro.
Winners in the 10-under unisex division of the event put up by former Philta president Salvador Andrada and supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, Thadeus Sports and Altamar Shipping were Samuel Davila over Abby Mae Espina, 4-0, 4-2; France Vhiel Dilao over John Prince Lim, 4-1, 1-4, 73; Jayden Ballado over Sofia Tenorio, 4-1, 4-1; Kriz Roque Lim over Eamon Rafael Lopez, 2-4, 4-2, 7-3; Devin Yap over Raghav Goel, 4-1, 4-0; and Frank Nhiele Dilao over Novak Brazal, 4-2, 5-3. Top seed Kean Sebastian drew a bye.
In boys’ 12-under, Sherwin Rey Nuguit outplayed Kriz Roque Lim, 6-1, 6-1; Brent So blanked Joshua Hidalgo, 6-0, 6-0; Dixand Andrade edged Honorio Poblador, 6-3, 6-1; and John Prince Lim, Darwin Cosca, Zimon Dorig, and Eamon Lopez via walkover.