LEGAZPI CITY – Wild card Tennielle Madis came up with a sterling performance in the girls' singles final to beat Ko Yu Tse of Chinese Taipei, 6-2, 6-3, in the PHINMA ITF Juniors Tennis Championships at the Makati Polo Club in Makati City on Sunday.
The 16-year-old netter from M'lang town in North Cotabato stayed focused to claim her first ITF title.
"I did not expect to reach the final and win the title because I am a wild card. But I did it. I thank the Lord, my family, and the people who are supporting me," Madis, the 2023 PCA Open finalist, said in an online interview on Monday.
"Almost all my matches are breathtaking because the players who joined have ITF points and they're regularly competing in the ITF tournaments. I really did my best even if this is my first time to join the ITF-sanctioned tour," added the Grade 11 student from Southern Baptist College.
Madis eliminated fifth seed Zheng An-Jie of Chinese Taipei, 6-1, 7-6(2), in the second round, and fourth seed compatriot Stefi Marithe Aludo, 6-1, 6-4, in the quarterfinals. She defeated another compatriot, qualifier Jana Jelena Nicole Diaz, 6-1, 6-0, in the semifinals.
Meanwhile, wild card Miguel Iglupas defeated compatriot John Benedict Aguilar, 6-2, 6-0, to secure the boys’ title. Iglupas and Aguilar won the doubles title over Hung-Jul Chen and Yu-Hsiang Chuang of Chinese Taipei, 7-5, 6-1.
PHINMA chairman emeritus and Philippine Tennis Academy (PTA) chairman Oscar Hilado; PTA president, Axelum Resources, Inc. chairman Rommie Chan; Philippine Tennis Association (Philta) president, Parañaque Mayor Eric Olivarez; secretary general, Navotas Mayor John Rey Tiangco; and board member Dyan Castillejo were present in the awarding ceremony, along with PTA board members Toñico Climent, lawyer Joey Torres, Raymond Suarez, and Andoy Maglipon, and head coach Bobie Angelo were also present. (PNA)
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