Competition heats up at DFS

The final weekend of the 24th Annual DFS Micronesian Tennis Championships is heating up with netters making their push to advance to the finals at the Pacific Islands Club tennis courts.

Leading the way is the men’s open singles, with top guns already matching up against each other in their run to the finals.

Among those still playing is Felipe Quiroz, who scored a three-set victory over youth standout Ji Hoon Heo in the opening round, 6-4 3-6, 6-4.

Quiroz faced top gun Daniel Son in the quarterfinals, and after dropping the first set 3-6, fought back and leveled the match by taking the second set, 6-4.

Quiroz then took advantage of miscues by Son in the decisive third set to stroll to a 6-1 clincher, setting up a semifinals match against youth netter Ralph Buenaventura. Buenaventura advanced after beating Jung Mun Chung in three sets.

Meanwhile, Nicolas Son, who already has won two titles in DFS, continued to have his way in the tournament, advancing to the semifinals by default after his opponent, Jeff Race, pulled out because of a hip injury.

Son faces Rory Mackay for a ticket to the championship round after Mackay beat Peter Loyola in straight sets 6-3, 6-1.

In other singles action, Joe Motto Sr. moved into the semifinals of the men’s 40-and-over category after getting by Riyoichi Gotunda 6-1, 6-2.

Father Ryan Jimenez was also successful, earning a quarterfinals berth in the men’s 4.0 following his straight sets victory over Granover Rettin 7-5, 6-2. Jimenez will face Eddie Kim, who won by walkover against Reo Arriola.

Cross-over sensation Mayuko Arriola is also playing well and remains in contention in the men’s 3.0 after cruising past Phillip Park 6-0, 6-0, while Joe Motto Jr. squeezed past fellow youth netter Calvin Yang 6-3, 7-6 (7-5).

Also advancing in the category was Henry Yang after he beat Nate Algaier in straight sets. Algaier put up a strong fight in the opening set before faltering 6-7 (2-7). Yang then took control of the match and closed out with a 6-1 win.

Henry Pun, who beat Ho Suk Chang 6-2, 6-1 in the second round, moved into the quarterfinals and was battling John Jenkins as of press time.

Meanwhile, the women’s 3.0 only featured two matches as Camryn Mosley topped Lenny Panteleon 6-2, 7-6 (9-6). She next plays Betty Johnson, who had a bye in the opening round.

Sadako Arriola also earned a semifinals ticket after scoring a 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 victory over Lisa Black. She will face Merle Hadkins, who like Johnson, had a bye in the opening round.

In doubles action, the duo of Cleo Von Siebanthal and Jessica Soll moved into the finals of the girls’ 12-and-under category after an easy 6-0, 6-0 victory over Gabrielle Race and Ilia Corella. DFS action continues today and is scheduled to conclude tomorrow.