After nine long years, the Philippine Women’s National Team is back in Asia/Oceania Group I of the Billie Jean King Cup.
Finding themselves in a dogfight against an Uzbekistan squad bannered by two regulars on the ITF pro tour, the Philippine squad — mentored by Coach Denise Dy and Assistant Coach Bobie Angelo — held their ground and prevailed in the deciding doubles to clinch the tie in Group II action on Saturday at the National Tennis Centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Tennielle Madis once again showed why she is considered the best Filipina singles player not named Alex Eala.
The 18-year-old product of the Philippine Tennis Academy delivered in the clutch, securing a break in the fourth game that proved decisive in taking the first set against Nigina Alimova, 6–4.
The Uzbek responded strongly in the second set, racing to a 4–2 lead, but Madis fought back by taking the next two games. She eventually sealed the set, 7–5, to give the Philippines a 1–0 advantage.
Uzbekistan’s top player, world No. 964 Sevil Yuldasheva, then fended off a spirited challenge from Shaira Rivera, prevailing 6–3, 7–5 to force a deciding rubber.
Rivera, a former Ateneo standout, recovered from a 0–3 deficit in the second set to level at 5–5, but Yuldasheva held her nerve in the closing games to secure the win after 12 games.
That set the stage for the doubles, where University of West Alabama teammates Rivera and Alexa Milliam entered as underdogs against Yuldasheva, ranked 639th in the world in doubles, and Alimova, ranked 1,525th.
Rivera and Milliam struck first, taking the opening set 6–4, but the Uzbek pair responded with a 6–3 second-set win to force a super tiebreak.
In the decider, Rivera and Milliam again surged ahead, racing to a 5–1 lead. However, Yuldasheva and Alimova mounted a comeback, stringing together four straight points to level at 5–5.
The Filipinas regrouped at the right moment, pulling away to 9–5 and eventually closing it out 10–5 to secure the victory.
The Philippines enjoyed an impressive campaign throughout the week, topping Group II’s Bracket A with three wins and one loss.
Hong Kong joins the Philippines as the two teams from Group II to be promoted to Group I next year, alongside South Korea, New Zealand, Thailand, Indonesia, India, and Mongolia.
The last time the Philippines competed in Asia/Oceania Group I was in 2017, with a lineup composed of Katharina Lehnert, Clarice Patrimonio, and Khim Iglupas.
