A pair of blockbuster, high-stakes singles finals are set at the P2 million Palawan Open 2026 after Fil-Am Christopher Papa survived a grueling marathon semifinal to arrange a heavyweight men’s title showdown against the Philippines’ top player, Alberto Lim Jr.
On the women’s side, veteran Marian Capadocia continued her impressive run, earning a highly anticipated, revenge-fueled finals clash against top seed Tennielle Madis.
The semifinal round delivered plenty of drama on Friday, but none matched the intensity of Papa’s hard-fought 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(4) victory over Indian top seed Digvijay Singh.
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After splitting the first two sets, Papa and Singh engaged in a fierce baseline battle in the decider. Neither player gave an inch as they held serve through 12 straight games, forcing a tense tiebreak. It was there that Papa’s composure and shot-making proved decisive.
Backed by exceptional defense and sharp court awareness, the fourth seed produced a series of clutch volleys and powerful groundstrokes to break Singh’s resistance and punch his ticket to the championship match of the tournament presented by the Philippine Sports Commission, Gentry Timepieces, and Bagong Pilipinas.
Awaiting him is the host nation’s top-ranked player, Lim, who took a far more straightforward route to the final in the event sanctioned by Philta and the Universal Tennis Ranking (UTR), and sponsored by the Palawan Group of Companies.
Lim reasserted his dominance over familiar rival Eric Jed Olivarez with a commanding 6-1, 6-3 victory. Fresh off a tough quarterfinal win over Casey Alcantara, the four-time PCA Open champion quickly seized control, racing to a 5-0 lead in the opening set.
He then broke Olivarez in the first game of the second set and sealed the win with another break in a lengthy ninth game, setting up a marquee title clash against Papa for the P300,000 champion’s purse on Sunday at 5 p.m.
The women’s singles final, scheduled for Sunday at 3 p.m., promises to be equally compelling, although both finalists advanced in dominant fashion.
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Madis and Capadocia delivered near-flawless performances in their respective semifinal matches, cruising to identical 6-0, 6-1 victories. Madis overwhelmed Kaye-Ann Emana, while Capadocia made quick work of Louraine Jallorina.
Their emphatic wins provide valuable recovery time ahead of a highly anticipated rematch. For the 18-year-old Madis, the final presents an opportunity to further establish her dominance after defeating Capadocia in the semifinals of the Philta National Women’s Open last April on her way to the title.
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Capadocia, however, enters the championship match motivated by redemption. The 30-year-old and 10-time PCA Open champion is carrying strong momentum after her gritty 6-1, 5-7, 6-3 quarterfinal victory over Stefi Aludo and appears poised for another memorable battle.
Meanwhile, the doubles competitions also reached their climax, with three titles being contested at press time.
In the men’s doubles final, Papa and Alcantara are facing Olivarez and Nilo Ledama. In the women’s doubles championship, Madis and Aludo are taking on sisters Kaye-Ann and Mica Emana.
The mixed doubles title match likewise features a star-studded lineup, with Alcantara and Capadocia battling the tandem of Madis and Ronard Joven.
