Alex Eala and Carlyn Guarde fashioned out victories in contrasting fashions to set the pace in the first Cebuana Lhuillier WTA Future Stars Qualifiers at the Valle Verde Country Club in Pasig on Friday. Eala, one of the country’s fast-rising stars, dominated Bliss Bayking, 6-0, 6-1, in the 14-and-under division while Guarde survived Aubrey Calma, 6-3, 7-6, in a tiebreak thriller in the 16-U category of the three-day event which will select the Philippines’ representatives to the WTA Future Stars tournament in Singapore next month. The first exclusive WTA Future Stars qualifiers is sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association with the winners in the two-division event clinching berths in the Singapore meet where they will be pitted against the region’s leading juniors. “The WTA commends Cebuana Lhuillier for its effort in organizing a national tournament for the Philippines’ top junior players. Aside from the qualifiers, the WTA Future Stars Clinic for kids was also held in conjunction with WTA’s grassroots development program aimed at introducing the sport to less-privileged communities.

Source: Manila Times September 16, 2016 10:41 UTC