Lhuillier sees great promise in PH tennis
Philippine Tennis got another shot in the arm when the country hosted the Association
of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Challenger Tour last month.
“Hosting the ATP Challenger was an opportunity that was too good to pass so I did
everything possible to make it happen,” said Philippine Tennis Association Chairman
Jean Henri Lhuillier.
“It’s definitely a big boost to Philippine tennis as it provided our players the
opportunity to pit their skills against world-class players and see where they stand
against the world’s best,” Lhuillier added.
Filipino Francis Casey Alcantara and Indonesian Christopher Rungkat finished second
in the men’s doubles of the ATP Challenger Tour after they lost to Johan Brunstrom
of Sweden and Frederik Nielsen of Denmark in the finals.
“Alcantara’s finals run in the doubles shows that our players have what it takes
to become world-beaters if given the right opportunities,” said Lhuillier.
Filipino ATP wildcard contenders reigning Philippine Columbian Association Open
champion Alberto Lim Jr., former Australian Open juniors singles quarterfinalist
Jeson Patrombon, and Davis Cup veteran Filipino-American Ruben Gonzales faltered
in their respective first-round matches in singles.
“[We want them to] move back to Asia-Oceania Group 1 of the Davis Cup where I strongly
believe we belong,” said Lhuillier who happens to be the team manager of the Philippine
Davis Cup Team.
The Philippines is currently in Group II of Davis Cup Asia-Oceania.
They will face Kuwait in the first round of the tie on March 4 to 6 at the Valle
Verde Country Club in Pasig City.
To popularize the sport, Lhuillier aims to improve the skills and rankings of Filipino
netters.
“Continue improving the skills and rankings of our players as well as popularizing
the sport among Filipinos and that’s the reason why I have been actively supporting
big international tennis events such as IPTL thru Philippine Mavericks which I co-owned
and managed, the recent ATP Challenger and International Tennis Federation Men’s
Futures which I and my company Cebuana Lhuillier supported,” he stressed.
He wants to see Gonzales, Alcantara, Treat Huey, and Katharina Lehnert in international
competitions and improve their rankings.
Lhuillier also underscored the need for a steady grassroots development program
through the staging of age-group tournaments in different parts of the country.
“More than a sports avenue, Cebuana Lhuillier Age Group tennis also advocates the
total human formation of young tennis players by helping them reach their tennis
career dreams, be it to go professional or use it as a platform for University schooling.
We aim to hone these talents to not just be champions in sports but also be champions
in real life,” Lhuiller referring to his company’s Cebuana Lhuillier age group tilt.
Source: www.manilatimes.net