PH netters settle for 4th place in Junior Fed Cup pre-qualifying round

The members of the Philippine team which competed in the Junior Fed Cup pre-qualifying tournament held recently in Colombo, Sri Lanka. From left are Czarina Mae Arevalo (coach), Patricia Lim, Angelica Alcala and Amanda Gabrielle Zoleta. (PNA photo)

MANILA — The Philippines absorbed a 1-2 defeat from Mongolia on Saturday to settle for fourth place at the conclusion of the Under-16 Junior Fed Cup Asia/Oceania pre-qualifying tournament at the Sri Lanka Tennis Center in Colombo.

It was a disappointing loss for the Philippines, which was hoping to play in the next round in Malaysia next month.

Sri Lanka, Singapore, and Mongolia have earned berths in the final qualifying round scheduled on April 16 to 21 in Kuching, the capital city of Malaysian state, Sarawak.

“They were up 6-3 in the super tie-break, four points away from qualifying round. The score was even tied at 8-all. Too bad, we did not get it,” said coach Czarina Mae Arevalo in an interview on Monday.

Patricia Lim gave the Philippines a 1-0 lead when she won over Nomin Khurelbaatar, 6-3, 6-0, in the first singles. Mongolia made it 1-all after posting a 6-2, 7-6 (3) victory over Angelica Alcala in the second singles.

Lim and Amanda Gabrielle Zoleta won the first set at 6-1 but Maralgoo Chogsomjav and Khurelbaatar took the second set at 6-4 and eventually won the deciding third set at 10-8.

“I was nervous because I was the first singles. I thought about all of my hard work and training. I told myself that I have to win, so in every point I gave it my all,” said the 15-year-old Lim, who hails from Valenzuela City.

“But I was a little disappointed about my doubles match because it was a very crucial and important match,” added Lim, a grade 9 student at Notre Dame of Greater Manila in Caloocan City.

Meanwhile, Pakistan and Pacific Oceania were the top two finishers in the boys division. Both made it to the final qualifying round of the Junior Davis Cup to be held from April 9 to 14, also in Sarawak.

The Philippines, which will be represented by Michael Francis Eala II, Jose Antonio Tria and Matthew Anton Garcia, is already in the final qualifying round.

The final qualifying events in Sarawak will select the teams which will advance to the Junior Davis and Fed Cup Finals in Budapest, Hungary in September.

Last week, Colombo City also hosted the pre-qualifying of the Under-14 World Juniors Tennis Championships Asia/Oceania Zonal competition.

The Philippine team composed of Marc Andrei Jarata, Axl Lajon Gonzaga and Rupert Ohrelle Tortal finished fifth after beating Kuwait, 3-0.

The top four teams which advanced to the final qualifying event in Nonthaburi, Thailand were Sri Lanka and Qatar (boys) and Lebanon and Malaysia (girls).

The boys’ competition is scheduled on March 26 to 31 while the girls’ tournament will be on April 2 to 7.

The winners will advance to the ITF World Junior Tennis Championships Finals slated August 6 to 11 in Prostejov, Czech Republic.