Reigning UAAP Women’s Tennis Most Valuable Player Kaye Ann Emana proved she could thrive under pressure, outlasting and outplaying rival Elizabeth Abarquez of National University, 7-6 (7-2), 6-2, on Wednesday night at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center to clinch a coveted spot in the qualifying draw of the Philippine Women’s Open.
Mixing her shots with precision and patience, the University of Santo Tomas standout once again asserted her mastery over a visibly frustrated Abarquez, delivering another straight-set victory that echoed their showdown in last year’s UAAP women’s tennis finals.
The win capped an impressive back-to-back effort for Emana, who was barely an hour removed from completing a hard-earned 6-4, 6-4 triumph over top seed Tiffany Nocos in the semifinals. Their match had been suspended the previous night due to heavy rain after the opening set.
When play resumed late yesterday afternoon, Emana showcased her resilience, clawing back from a 1-4 deficit in the second set by rattling off five straight games to close out Nocos and set the stage for a winner-take-all duel with Abarquez for the prized wild card in the qualifying meet organized by the Philippine Tennis Association and supported by the Philippine Sports Commission.
“Thankful po ako and excited to get the wild card (for the Philippine Women’s Open qualifying draw). At kinakabahan din po kasi first time kong makakalaban ang mga mas magagaling na player doon sa qualifying round,” Emana said.
She credited her mental toughness for helping her recover from an early deficit in the opening set against Abarquez, forcing a tiebreak after the two were deadlocked at 6-all.
“Up and down ang laro ko po sa first set kaya nag-take advantage na lang po ako ng mukhang na-frustrate na siya, lalo sa tiebreaker when I took a 3-0 lead,” Emana said, pointing to the turning point of the match.
With her confidence growing in the second set, Emana seized full control, racing to a commanding 5-1 lead against her demoralized opponent before sealing her place in the Philippine Women’s Open qualifying round.
Abarquez, meanwhile, admitted she struggled to cope with Emana’s deceptive shot selection, which repeatedly disrupted her rhythm and ultimately led to her downfall.
“Deceptive po ang mga shots niya (Emana). Akala ko malayo tapos malapit sa net babagsak yung bola. Hindi ako makaporma talaga,” rued the Cebuana netter, recalling that the outcome mirrored their encounter in last year’s UAAP women’s tennis finals.
Both players also took note of the improved playing conditions on the newly resurfaced hard courts, with more than a week remaining before the country hosts its first-ever WTA 125 tournament sanctioned by the Women’s Tennis Association.
PHILTA official and co–Philippine Women’s Open tournament director Dyan Castillejo encouraged Abarquez to continue training in case another wildcard opportunity arises. The qualifying draw will be held from Jan. 24 to 25, ahead of the main draw which begins on Jan. 26.
