Manila: Third-seed Ren Matsumura of Japan swept the boys’ division of the Coca-Cola Philta International Juniors Leg 1 at Rizal Memorial Tennis Center in Manila Saturday. The 16-year-old native of Shizuoka City claimed the singles title over No. 4 Zhao Xiao-Feng of Chinese Taipei, with a score of 7-6 (9), 5-2 (ret.). Zhao, who was eyeing his second title after winning a J30 event in his hometown Kaoshiung three weeks ago, was forced to retire due to a right ankle injury.
According to Philippines News Agency, Matsumura also achieved victory in the doubles category alongside his partner Yoshito Oda. The pair defeated their compatriots Takahiro Kawaguchi and Koki Nara with a scoreline of 3-6, 6-3, 10-8. Matsumura has previously competed in the Junior Davis Cup and World Juniors Championships and was a semifinalist at a J100 event in Kawaguchi, Japan, last month.
Meanwhile, in the girls’ singles finals of the ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors, top seed Korean Oh Jiyun defeated No. 6 compatriot Lim Sa Rang with a de
cisive 6-2, 6-0 victory. Oh, who is 14 years old, recently won a J60 event in Singapore last January. In the girls’ doubles, the fourth seed Korean duo of Choi Min Young and Choi Soo Young surprised the top seeds Huang Yi-Ching and Ko Yu-Tsen of Chinese Taipei by winning 7-5, 6-0.
The tournament is set to continue with the qualifying round for the second leg already underway, and the main draw scheduled to begin on Monday.