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Tennielle 'Tenny' Madis, who is ranked No. 2 in the country behind Alex Eala, may fly under the radar, but she looms as one of the top Filipina bets in the Philippine Women’s Open
MANILA, Philippines – As tennis surges in the Philippines on the back of Alex Eala’s rise, another Filipino quietly climbs the ranks to become the country’s second-best female player.
Tennielle “Tenny” Madis, who is ranked No. 2 in the country behind Eala, may fly under the radar, but she looms as one of the top Filipina bets in the Philippine Women’s Open from January 26 to 31.
Madis will be competing in the main draw of the country’s first-ever WTA 125 event through a wild card entry, alongside Eala, UAAP women’s tennis MVP Kaye Emana, who ruled the tournament’s pre-qualifying event, and NU’s Elizabeth Abarquez.
“I’m very grateful for the wild card spot since it’s a great opportunity to compete at a higher level and gain experience,” the 18-year-old Madis said in Filipino. “This is a chance to be better and be at my best.”
Madis faces Thailand’s Mananchaya Sawangkaew, who has career-high ranking of world No. 100, on Monday, January 26. Sawangkaew reached her first WTA 125 final in the Mumbai Open in India last year.
A pride of M’lang, Cotabato, Madis is coming off a two-medal loot in the Southeast Asian Games last December in Thailand, where she won bronzes in the doubles and team event.
Madis also ruled the women’s singles event in the Gentry Open and the Philippine Columbian Association championship.
After climbing the national rankings over the past year, Madis — still a high school student through homeschool — is expected to play varsity collegiate tennis at the University of Hawaii, adding to the crop of Filipino tennis players abroad.
Madis trains at the Philippine Tennis Academy under her coach Bobie Angelo.
The Manila tournament will be Madis’ first WTA event as she gets a chance to test her mettle against world-ranked opponents.
“My goal is to compete, have fun, and do my best because I know my opponents are stronger than me. I just have to focus and carry the Philippine flag well,” she said.
“I have no pressure at all. The wild card really means a lot to me, so I am excited,” Madis added. “I am aiming to do well on the court.”
Notably, Madis has been on the sidelines throughout the qualifying round, perhaps soaking in the atmosphere before her first WTA match.
For Madis, Filipino fans will be a massive boost as she aims to advance past the opening round.
“I’ve been training consistently so seeing the Filipinos watching will be special,” she said. – Rappler.com
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