(From left) UTP president Jean Henri Lhuillier, general manager Jackie Tomacruz, and board member Gerard Madronilla award certificates of recognition to the girls for being the country’s top-ranking players in their respective categories.

Date Published: September 25, 2018

Junior tennis players Macie Carlos and Justine Maneja posted three straight wins to remain unbeaten in the Cebuana Lhuillier Girls’ Tennis Challenge Under 14 and Under 16 Qualifying Tournament at the Makati Sports Club in Makati City.

Sanctioned by Unified Tennis Philippines (UTP), the competition serves as a qualifier for the Women’s Tennis Association Future Stars Finals in Singapore in October.

Carlos dominated Corazon Lambonao, 6-2, 6-2, on opening day and made easy back-to-back wins against Tennielle Madis and Mica Emana with similar 6-1, 6-1 finishes to stay on top of group one of the 14-under category at the end of the elimination round.

Maneja quickly demolished Shedel Gica, 6-3, 6-0, and Anna De Myer, 6-0, 6-2, before upsetting top seed Rovie Baulete, 6-3, 7-6(3), to earn top spot in group one of the 16-under category in the tournament sponsored by Malayan Insurance, Dunlop and the Makati Sports Club.

“The second day of the tennis challenge showed that the girls have the grit to compete in the WTA Future Stars tournament. The games today brought out the best among the best and I am looking forward to fiery matches in the finals,” said Jean Henri Lhuillier, Unified Tennis Philippines president and Cebuana Lhuillier president and CEO.

Baulete also made back-to-back wins at the expense of De Myer, 6-4, 6-7(4), 10-2, and Gica, 6-1, 7-6(3) before losing to Maneja while Emana made a pair of wins against Madis, 6-2, 3-6, 11-9, and Lambonao, 6-3, 6-0, before yielding to Carlos.

Carlos, Emana, Maneja and Baulete await their group two challengers in the cross-over semifinals as elimination games were still being played as of press time.

Macie Carlos and Justine Maneja show their intensity and winning form during the elimination round matches.

Source: immestera.wordpress.com