Published: September 23, 2017

by ABS-CBN News

Defending champion and top-ranked junior tennis player Alexandra Eala’s title-retention bid was off to a good start as she overwhelmed Sydney Ezra Enriquez in the 2nd Cebuana Lhuillier WTA Future Stars qualifying tournament at the Valle Verde Country Club in Pasig City Friday.

The 14-under division champion made quick work of Enriquez after winning the match without dropping a set and a game, 6-0, 6-0.

In other matches, Macy Carlos defeated Alexa Joy Milliam, 6-2, 6-1, while Minette Bentillo also trounced Julia Ignacio, 6-0, 6-3. Justine Hanna Maneja booked her first win at the expense of Amanda Gabrielle Zoleta, 6-3, 6-2.

Tracy Chedette Llamas, meanwhile, scored an upset over last year’s finalist and top-ranked Carlyn Bless Guarde in the 16-under division, 6-4, 4-6, 10-5.

Elizabeth Abarquez also edged out Winona Cabardo, 6-4, 6-3, and Jazzelle Madis outmuscled Kiana de Asis, 6-3, 6-3. Danna Mariella Abad also slated a win after a 6-2, 7-6 victory over Gennifer Pagente.

Cebuana Lhuillier is staging the Unified Tennis Philippines (UTP)-sanctioned qualifying tournament for the second straight year where the country’s delegates to the 2017 Women’s Tennis Association Future Stars Finals in Singapore will be selected.

The winners of each division will don the Philippine tri-colors in Singapore.

“This affirms our [Cebuana Lhuillier] commitment to provide opportunities for talented young tennis players to realize their dreams of competing in the world stage by constantly honing and challenging their skills through local tournaments,” said UTP co-founder and Cebuana Lhuillier president and CEO Jean Henri Lhuillier.

Source: news.abs-cbn.com