Tennielle Madis makes a double-backhand return against Naomi Hagi of Hong Kong during the quarterfinal of the Coca-Cola PHILTA International Juniors 2 at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center on Friday. PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF PHILTA
TENNIS

Madis, Aludo rip foes, reach semis

TDT

Filipinos Tennielle Madis and Stefi Marithe Aludo downed separate foes to reach the semifinal round of the Coca-Cola PHILTA International Juniors 2 on Friday at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

The top-ranked Madis defeated No. 6 Naomi Hagi of Hong Kong, 6-0, 6-4, to advance against No. 4 Alexandra Cheishvili of Russia, who walked over Shinar Zahra Shukayna Heriyadi Sunggoro of Indonesia.

Aludo, seeded third, conquered Kannchaya Chungwatana, 6-1, 6-3, to advance against No. 2 Jihun Oh of Korea.

Oh, the first leg champion, pulled off a 6-1, 7-5 win over compatriot Seojin Park.

In the boys singles category, No. 6 Miguel Iglupas lost to No. 2 Lin Hao-Yu, 0-6, 3-6, in the ITF J60 event supported by official ball Technifibre.

Hao-Yu will face No. 7 and Koki Nara of Japan, who won over No. 4 Luke Koh of Singapore, 7-6, 1-0 (ret.).

Top seed Jay Lin Gibson of Canada survived unseeded Japanese Yoshito Oda, 6-7, (8), 7-6 (6), 7-6 (4), to forge a semifinal showdown with Fu Wang Choi of Hong Kong, a 6-4, 6-2 winner over Luke Jie Xi Ho of Singapore.

Madis is seeking a sixth singles title this year. Her other victories were at the J30 PHINMA Week 1 and 2 in Makati City in July and J60 events in Colombo (Sri Lanka) in September, Nonthaburi (Thailand) in October and Changhua City Chinese Taipei (November). She also has three doubles titles with Aludo.

Madis and Aludo are both training at the Philippine Tennis Academy under Southeast Asian Games medalist and former Davis Cupper Bobbie Angelo.