Prulla ends Capadocia’s reign; Arcilla keeps crown

MANILA, Philippines — “Happiest day of my life.”

That’s how Jenaila Rose Prulla described her sensational Sunday after the storm as she turned back seven-time champion Marian Jade Capadocia, 6-3, 7-6 (3), yesterday to crown herself the queen of the 39th PCA Open Tennis Championships at its Plaza Dilao, Paco indoor court.

In the men’s singles, the unsinkable Johnny Arcilla downed former ATP No. 160 Guillermo Olaso of Spain, 7-5, 1-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-4, to rule the event for a record 10th time.

There was no fear in the 17-year-old San Jose del Monte, Bulacan lass as she disposed of the same person who smashed her into submission when they met three years ago.

Compared to the last time, Prulla was no longer a bewildered, frail 14-year-old as the past three years turned her into a taller, bigger and more experienced tennis killing machine that Capadocia could no longer handle.

“I’ve gotten taller by around two inches, I have more muscles now because I focused on fitness so I can have power. And most importantly, I’m no longer afraid like before,” said the Hanoi Southeast Asian Games quarterfinalist.

The 27-year-old Capadocia knew she’s facing a different Prulla but she didn’t expect she was this tougher and more dangerous.

But Capadocia didn’t go down without a fight as she fought back from a 4-3 deficit and even came on the verge of snatching the second set and forcing a decider.

Prulla though didn’t let it happen, courageously battling back to force a tiebreaker where she strung up six straight points from 1-3 to get the win.

In the tiebreaker, Capadocia found herself in trouble with a tightening right leg.

She was given a warning at first and then a point deduction next.

When she did get up from a fall, she was no longer the same person possessing that blistering two-handed groundstrokes that was her ticket to winning seven crowns here.

“I couldn’t explain the feeling, this is probably the happiest day of my life,” said Prulla after completing the win going with a cash prize of P100,000 courtesy of Smart/PLDT, official ball Dunlop, Manila Councilor Jong Isip, San Jose Salt, W. L. Food Products, Palawan Pawnshop and Pagcor.