Japanese gain in rain-hit Phinma-PSC opener

MANILA, Philippines – Japanese No. 4 Kazuki Shimizu and compatriot Tomoya Ikeda came away with a pair of lopsided victories over their respective rivals yesterday to cruise to the second round of the rain-marred opener of the Phinma-PSC International Juniors Tennis Championships Week 1 at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

Shimizu overpowered Thai qualifier Pawin Jirapoomdaje and claimed a 6-0, 6-1 romp, the same scoreline posted by Ikeda in ousting Indonesian Giorgio Soemarno before organizers of the Grade 4 ITF (International Tennis Federation) 18-under category event sponsored by the Phinma Group of Companies and the Philippine Sports Commission called off plays due to non-stop rain.

Three other matches in the boys’ side were left unfinished with top seed Bryan Otico trailing Japanese qualifier Keisuke Saitoh, 4-6, 0-1; third seed Arthur Pantino hanging tough against another Japanese ace Fumiya Yoshino, 3-6, 6-5; and Taiwanese Tsai Chang-lin holding to a 6-3, 3-2 lead over Indonesian Muhammad Althaf Dhaifullah.

Nine other matches in the boys’ division were reset for today, making the second day of action in the top-ranking tournament backed by Mariposa Foundation, Technifibre and Century Park Hotel a busy one with 13 girls’ contests also on tap.