Davao’s Shaira Hope Rivera hurdled the first round of the tough Phinma-PSC International Juniors Week 2 on Wednesday at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.
Rivera outplayed Japanese qualifier Kanon Yasumoto, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 to advance against third seed Taiwanese Kuan Yi Lee, a 6-1, 6-2 winner over Indonesian Samantha Nanere.
Another Philippine netter Frances Angelica Santiago also advvanced past Round 1.
Santiago won over qualifier Tameka Peterson of Trinidad and Tobago, 6-4, 6-1, to arrange a second-round meeting with sixth seed Chinese Xuanjin Li, who scored a 6-2, 6-1 victory over American Skyler Holm.
Second seed Japanese Rika Tanaka and compatriot No. 5 Risa Fukutoku also marched into the next round of this Grade 4 event sanctioned by the International Tennis Federation (ITF).
The world’s No. 283 Tanaka outclassed local Monica Therese Cruz, 6-0, 6-1 while Fukutoku, ranked No. 530, won over Russian Mariya Polishchuck, 6-0, 6-3.
Ange Oby Kajuru joined her fellow Japanese in the second round after eliminating No. 8 Taiwanese Ting-Pei Chang, 6-2, 6-2.
Other first-round winners were American Jordan Harris over Rafaella Jean Villanueva, 6-1, 6-2; Taiwanese Chao-Yi Wang over Janella Carmela Llavore, 6-2, 6-2; and Chinese qualifier Jing Jing Yang over local wild card Gennifer Lyssandra Pagente, 6-2, 6-1. (PNA)
