PH junior netters win over Australians

PNA photo

MANILA — The Philippines defeated Australia, 2-1, in the Under-14 World Juniors Tennis Championships Asia/Oceania Final Qualifying at the National Tennis Development Center in Nonthaburi, Thailand on Friday.

The Australians took a 1-0 lead after Catherine Aulia scored a 6-0, 6-1 victory over Ma.

Carmencita Carlos in the first singles match of their best-of-three tie.

But the Filipinos fought back, with Alexandra Eala winning her second singles match against Mia Repac, 6-3, 6-3, and the tandem of Carlos and Eala prevailing over Aulia and Repac, 6-3, 7-5, after one hour and 20 minutes.

The victory set up the Philippines against New Zealand in the battle for fifth place on Saturday. New Zealand defeated South Korea, 2-1.

Australia, on the other hand, will face South Korea for the seventh and eighth places.

Meanwhile, Malaysia outplayed Sri Lanka, 2-1, and Indonesia demolished Lebanon, 2-0, in the quarterfinal round of the play-off for ninth to 16th places.

Other matches saw India posting a 2-1 victory over Uzbekistan and Hong Kong winning over Kazakhstan, 2-1.

In the semifinal round, Malaysia defeated Indonesia, 2-0, to advance against Hong Kong, a 2-1 winner over India, in the play-off for ninth place.

Indonesia and India will face each other for 11th place.

Sri Lanka outclassed Lebanon, 3-0, to advance against Uzbekistan, which won over Kazakhstan, 2-0, in the battle for 13th place. Lebanon and Kazakhstan will be fighting for 15th place. (PNA)