YUSUKE Takahashi and Nozomi Ohya pulled off come-from-behind victories for a Japanese sweep of the singles crowns in the Phinma International Juniors Week 2 Tennis Championships on Sunday at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.
The third-seeded Takahashi recovered from a slow start to repulse compatriot No. 7 Sora Fukuda, 4-6, 6-1, 6-1, in the boys finals, while Ohya survived a first set meltdown to beat Yukina Saigo, 3-6, 7-6 (6), 7-5, in the girls’ side.
The Japanese matched the Philippines’ feat last week when Alberto Lim Jr. and Marian Capadocia swept the singles titles.
It was a sweet victory for Takahashi, whom the 13-year-old Lim humbled in the Week One finals. Ohya’s title run was highlighted by a shock 6-7(5), 7-5, 6-3 win over No. 2 Miki Kobayashi.
Capadocia and Kobayashi turned back Ohya and Saigo, 3-6, 6-2, 12-10, to bag the girls' doubles crown on Saturday.
"It's sweet to win in the singles last week and now the doubles," said the 17-year-old Capadocia, who is hoping to land an athletic scholarship in a US NCAA Division I school next year.
The Kobayashi-Capadocia tandem beat Chinese Taipei's Chang Ya Ting and Chen Han Chi, 6-4, 6-7(5), 10-6 in Tuesday's first round before defeating Japan's Konomi Shida and Russia's Flyora Shiyanova, 6-1, 6-2, the second round and Russia's Anna Grigoryan and Japan's Miyo Kobayashi, 6-1, 6-1, in the semifinals of the event sponsored by Phinma and backed by Technifibre, Viva and Powerade with the Philippine Sports Commission providing free use of the RMTC.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph