Top seed Digvijay Singh and second-ranked AJ Lim dismantled their respective rivals to move within one victory of a highly anticipated championship showdown, anchoring a thrilling men’s singles semifinal picture as the P2-million Palawan Open 2026 reached a fever pitch at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.
Standing in the way of their projected collision, however, are two formidable contenders fresh off explosive quarterfinal performances on Wednesday, setting the stage for a weekend of high-octane tennis action.
Battling through oppressive, blistering summer heat, Singh sustained his ruthless form. The 6-foot-3 ace from Haryana — a multiple ITF World Tennis Tour champion and Davis Cup veteran — cruised past Jarell Edangga, 6-0, 1-0 (ret.), before overwhelming John Kendrick Bona, 6-1, 6-0, to claim the first Final Four slot and a shot at the top P300,000 purse.
Singh will next face No. 4 Christopher Papa of the US, setting up a highly charged 4:00 PM Friday clash of power and style. Papa advanced by deflating local hopeful Arthur Pantino with a commanding 6-1, 6-1 triumph.
Pantino had earlier injected drama into the tournament by outlasting India’s fifth-seeded Parth Aggarwal in a three-set quarterfinal thriller, 5-7, 6-3, 7-6(6), but ultimately ran out of steam against Papa’s relentless power and superb court coverage.
The lower half of the 64-player draw promises equal theater. The multi-titled Lim thwarted a spirited challenge from Casey Alcantara, 6-3, 6-4, to book a 5:00 PM Friday semifinal duel with No. 3 Eric Jed Olivarez, who repulsed John Benedict Aguilar, 6-4, 6-1.
While Lim has historically dominated Olivarez — most recently at the Philta Men’s Open finals last month — the latter enters the match brimming with confidence following a strong quarterfinal run in China last week.
It sets up a fascinating emotional battle between Lim’s psychological edge and Olivarez’s determination to break the trend in the P2-million championship sanctioned by Philta and the Universal Tennis Ranking (UTR), and sponsored by the Palawan Group of Companies.
The singles action takes a much-needed breather on Thursday, shifting the spotlight to equally electrifying doubles and mixed doubles matches in the event presented by the Philippine Sports Commission, Gentry Timepieces, and Bagong Pilipinas.
In the women’s singles, unranked veteran Marian Capadocia continued her fairytale run. After sending shockwaves with a 6-2, 6-3 upset of No. 8 Althea Ong, the 30-year-old, 10-time PCA Open champion proved she can still trade blows with the country’s younger crop by pulling off a grueling 6-1, 5-7, 6-3 upset of No. 2 Stefi Aludo.
(C) PPS
Capadocia initially caught Aludo off guard, breaking her twice to take the opening set. Aludo roared back in the second, recovering from a 0-40 deficit in the eighth game to force a deciding set. Refusing to yield, Capadocia reasserted her control in the third, breaking Aludo early and securing a double break for a 5-2 lead.
Though Aludo broke back once, Capadocia immediately responded to seal the match and book a semifinal date with No. 6 Louraine Jallorina, who outlasted Annika Diwa, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.
On the other side of the women’s bracket, top seed Tennielle Madis had to dig deep to defuse a stubborn upset bid from Elizabeth Abarquez, 6-3, 6-4. Madis moved on to face No. 4 Kaye-Ann Emana, who defeated Niña Alcala, 6-1, 6-3.
The intensity carried over to the doubles events, maximizing entertainment value for the roaring tennis crowd.
In the men’s division, the tandem of Alcantara and Papa routed Kenzo Brodeth and John Velez, 6-3, 6-1, to arrange a semifinal faceoff with Lim and Ronard Joven, who survived a 6-3, 3-6, 10-6 cliffhanger against Noel Damian and Pantino.
Meanwhile, Olivarez and Vicente Ledama thumped Vicente Anasta and RJ Saga, 6-4, 6-2, to set up a Final Four duel with Richard Bautista and Eric Jay Tangub, who were 6-2, 6-1 winners over Aguilar and Bona.
In women’s doubles, top seeds Madis and Aludo rolled into the semifinals with a 6-1, 6-0 demolition of Marielle Jarata and Joanna Peña, setting up a clash with Diwa and Mikaela Vicencio. The Emana siblings, Kaye-Ann and Mica, also advanced after clobbering Izabelle Camcam and Capadocia, 6-1, 6-2, and will face Abarquez and Guysie Guardo.
In mixed doubles, Alcantara and Capadocia will team up against Pantino and Aludo in the semifinals, while Joven and Madis will take on the dangerous duo of Aggarwal and Rovie Baulete.
