CAÑIZA OPEN. National player Shaira Hope Rivera in action during the 2022 PCA Open singles competition. She made it to the third round of the Rina Cañiza Women’s Open Tennis Championships at the Philippine Columbian Association (PCA) outdoor courts in Paco, Manila on Monday (Feb. 6, 2023). (Contributed photo)
MANILA – Southeast Asian Games campaigner Shaira Hope Rivera stamped her class over Jilianne Bautista, 6-0, 6-0, to reach the third round of the Rina Cañiza Women’s Open Tennis Championships at the Philippine Columbian Association (PCA) outdoor courts in Paco, Manila on Monday.
"It's a good start," said Rivera, who won by default over Chelsea Roque in the first round.
She is still recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery last June, a month after competing in the Vietnam SEA Games where the women's team won the bronze medal.
"This is my first tournament after the surgery so I am not expecting a lot. I'll try to play well and see what happens," added Rivera, who still managed to win the PCA Open doubles with Alyssa Bornia last October.
She will return to the court on Wednesday, facing the winner of the match between fourth seed Miles Alexandra Vitaliano and Renee Ysabella Esteban.
Other first-round winners were Kimi Alyana Brodeth, Mary Aubrey Calma, Jayden Reece Ballado, Mariam Yasmin Garsin, Rachel Patricia Velez, Debbie Gom-Os, Melanie Faye Dizon, Aj Acabo, Jana Jelena Nicole Diaz and wild card Chloe Marie Mercado.
Cash prizes at stake are PHP50,000 (singles champion), PHP25,000 (runner-up), PHP10,000 (semifinalists) and PHP5,000 (quarterfinalists). The Top 16 will get PHP2,500 each while the qualifiers will receive PHP1,500.
The doubles champions will share the PHP50,000 top prize while the runners-up will split the PHP25,000 cash prize. The semifinalists and quarterfinalists will earn PHP10,000 and PHP5,000, respectively.
Meanwhile, the National Collegiate Tennis Championships will begin on Feb. 13. Players may contact tournament organizer Bobby Mangunay at 0915-404-6464. (PNA)
