Скачать или смотреть The rich history of Philippine tennis, decades before Alex Eala

The rich history of Philippine tennis, decades before Alex Eala
Before Alex Eala became a national sensation, the last time the sport of tennis captivated the country was during the 1988 Davis Cup tie between the Philippines and Japan. I was then a 10-year-old age group player who keenly followed the results in the newspapers.
The Philippines was missing Manny Tolentino, the No. 1 Filipino player, who was dropped from the national team by the local federation. Also unavailable were 1985 Wimbledon juniors semifinalist Felix Barrientos, the 20th-ranked player in the US NCAA, and Roland So — who were both with the Louisiana State University.
The overwhelming favorites, Japan swept the first two singles. The Philippines roared back when Rod Rafael and Raymond Suarez won the doubles, then pulled even after Bong Battad prevailed in the first reverse singles.
For the deciding fifth match, coach Butch Bacani replaced ailing teen Ringo Navarrosa with Suarez, an unexpected move as the latter was more known as a doubles player.
Facing world No. 367 Toshihisa Tsuchihashi, the No. 953 Suarez outlasted the Japanese, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, clinching the tie at the packed Philippine Columbian Association and sending the nation into a frenzy. My friends and I all wanted to be Raymond Suarez the following day.
The euphoria from Eala’s unprecedented run in the Miami Open had probably waned for most Filipinos, who moved on to other sports until the next time Eala wins in the WTA Tour.
We lifelong tennis fans, however, still enjoy the hangover from Eala’s success and allow it to linger. This is what we have been waiting for — a Filipino making it on the world stage, and the entire country giving tennis some love and attention.
The country actually has a rich tennis history.
Two names first put the Philippines on the map before the Open era when professional players were still not allowed to compete with amateurs.
Felicismo Ampon made the quarterfinals of the French Open (1952, 1953), the fourth round of the US Open four times, and the third round of the US Open thrice.
Raymundo Deyro, starting in the late 1940s, reached the French Open fourth round and the third rounds of the Wimbledon and US Open — all twice over.
In the Open era, Filipinos excelled in the junior ranks and in doubles.
Francis Casey Alcantara, currently 256th in the world in men’s doubles, copped the 2009 Australian Open boys doubles championship. Manny Tolentino was the No. 1 junior player in the world in the ’80s. Jeson Patrombom reached ninth in the world junior rankings. Jennifer Saberon was in the world top 20 girls juniors and made the semifinals of the 1986 Wimbledon girls doubles.
But no one became a fixture at the highest levels of singles competitions.
The best female players to come out of the Philippines then in the Open era were Maricris Fernandez-Gentz, who peaked at 284th in the world, Francesca La’O, who was 386th in 1994, and Filipina-German Katharina Lehnert, who sat at 389th in 2013.
The foremost Filipino doubles player in the first four decades of the Open era was Beeyong Sison, who was part of the early wave of Filipinos recruited for college tennis in the US NCAA. He reached the quarterfinals of the 1981 French Open, the third round of 1982 Wimbledon, and the second round of Treat Huey eclipsed Sison’s achievements over 40 years later. Huey, the 18th-ranked doubles player in the world in 2016 after reaching the Wimbledon semis, the Australian Open quarterfinals, and the French Open third round. The Filipino-American also made the US Open quarters in 2013.
Some tennis fans cite former national team members Cecil Mamiit and Eric Taino as the most accomplished Filipinos at the world level in the last half century.
Mamiit, world No. 72 in 1999, and Taino, the 1992 US Open juniors doubles champion, still represented the United States in the early part of their pro careers. They started playing for the Philippines in the 2005 SEA Games.
Before Eala’s breakthrough, the highest ranked Filipino in history was Eddie Cruz, whose career-high of 179 was attained in 1974.
But for those of my generation, the undisputed OG was Felix Barrientos.
The first time I watched Barrientos play was during the Zamboanga Open in 1988 or 1989. He was simply a cut above the rest of the competition and romped away with the title. I remember thinking to myself that it was the closest I could get to watching a world-class player, if he wasn’t one already.
the 1982 US Open.


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