Chinese pair storms to final

Second seeds Dong Yan-Hua and Zhang Yao of China rallied past ninth seeds Sania Mirza and Radhika Tulpule of India, 5-7, 7-6 (6), 6-4, yesterday to reach the doubles finals of the $10,000 Union Cement-ITF Philippines Women’s Circuit 1 at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

Dong and Zhang will meet No. 8 Kim Kilsdonk of the Netherlands and Dianne Matias of the United States, who survived Uzbek pair Akgul Amanmuradova and Ivanna Israilova, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.

Meanwhile, the singles final between Wang I-ting of Chinese Taipei and Sania Mirza of India will be played at the center court today at 10 a.m.

The singles champion will receive $1,600 and the double winners will share $650 in this event supported by the ITF Grand Slam Development Fund, Wilson balls, Manila Midtown Hotel and Philippine Sports Commission.

The fifth-ranked Wang, a quarterfinalist in the Busan Asian Games, marched into the finals following a 6-4, 6-2 win over second seed and world’s No. 571 Khoo Chin Bee of Malaysia, while Mirza defeated wild card Ivanna Israilova of Uzbekistan, 6-4, 6-2.

"It will be a tough match in the final. She’s (Mirza) a power player and she plays smart," said the 20-year-old Wang, ranked No. 604 in the world. She is currently No. 4 in her country behind Hsieh Su Wei, Janet Lee and Chung Chia Jung.

Mirza, who competed twice in the Mitsubishi International Juniors here in Manila, is eyeing her second title this year. She won the $10,000 Hyderabad event in her hometown last September in her first stint as a pro.

"My confidence level is high and I expect to play well in the finals," said Mirza, who debuted in the Busan Asian Games where she won the mixed doubles bronze medal with Leander Paes.

Mirza, who will turn 16 on Nov. 15, has been training under C.G.K. Bhupathi, the father of 2002 US Open doubles champion Mahesh, since January. She competed in this year’s Australian, French, Wimbledon and US Open Juniors,

Her best finish was reaching the singles and doubles quarterfinals in the US Open Juniors.