Macie Carlos came away with two more victories in emphatic fashions to stay on top of the 14-and-under division while Justine Maneja stunned top seed Rovie Baulete to stir up play in the 16-U class of the Cebuana Lhuillier Girls’ Tennis Challenge Under-14 and U-16 qualifying tournaments at the Makati Sports Club over the weekend.
Carlos, who ripped Corazon Lambonao, 6-2, 6-2, in the opener of the Unified Tennis Philippines-sanctioned event serving as a qualifier for the Women’s Tennis Association Future Stars Finals in Singapore next month, romped past Tennielle Madis and Mica Emana via similar 6-1, 6-1 victories to roll into the crossover semifinals.
Maneja, meanwhile, rode on the momentum of her victories over Shedel Gica, 6-3, 6-0, and Anna De Myer, 6-0, 6-2, as she surprised Baulete, 6-3, 7-6(3), to claim the top spot in Group I in their side of the event sponsored by Malayan Insurance, Dunlop and Makati Sports Club.
“The games brought out the best among the best and I am looking forward to fiery matches in the finals,” said Cebuana Lhuillier president/CEO and UTP founder Jean Henri Lhuillier.
Baulete earlier foiled De Myer, 6-4, 7-6(4), 10-2, and outlasted Gica, 6-1, 7-6(3), but struggled in the face of Maneja’s superb all-around game. Emana also posted a pair of victories over Madis, 6-2, 3-6, 11-9; and Lambonao, 6-3, 6-0, before yielding to Carlos.
Matches were still being played at press time with the winners joining Carlos, Emana, Maneja and Baulete in the crossover semifinals.
