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Tennielle Madis looks to make WTA debut count in PH Women’s Open
Tennielle Madis vowed to give it her best shot as she competes in a Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) 125 tournament for the first time in her career after being awarded a main draw wildcard for the Philippine Women’s Open later this month.
Currently unranked by the professional women's tennis governing body, the 18-year-old rising Filipina ace is looking forward to showcasing her talent on a bigger stage in her WTA debut.
“It feels so special to be here. I’m so excited to compete,” said Madis during Tuesday’s press conference organized by the Philippine Tennis Association (PHILTA) at the Lanson Place in Pasay City.
“There's a lot of tough players talaga who will be there kasi WTA 125 na ito. So I'll just do my best. I will give my all in the tournament,” she added.
(There's a lot of really tough players who will be there because this is a WTA 125 already. So I'll just do my best. I will give my all in the tournament.)
Madis recently saw action at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand, where she took home two bronze medals, one in the women’s doubles alongside Stefi Aludo and another in the team event.
Right after the regional meet, the young player, hailing from North Cotabato, found out she will be given one of the four wildcards for the tournament slated at the newly renovated Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.
“Nung last week of December ko lang din nalaman na makakapaglaro ako sa first WTA competition ko. So I've been training consistently and hard with my team, at the Philippine Tennis Academy, with coach Bobbie Angelo and my teammates,” she said.
(It was only in the last week of December when I found out that I would be able to play in my first WTA competition. So I've been training consistently and hard with my team, at the Philippine Tennis Academy, with coach Bobbie Angelo and my teammates.)
Aside from Madis, her fellow national team member Alexandra “Alex” Eala is also getting a wild card entry into her very own home tournament.
Eala, who started the new year on a bright note after reaching the semifinal of the ASB Classic in New Zealand, is now set to take part in this edition of the Kooyong Classic in Melbourne.
Meanwhile, after competing in multiple local tournaments, including Palarong Pambansa and Batang Pinoy, Madis went on to participate in International Tennis Federation (ITF) tournaments, where she has a total of six singles and 11 doubles titles, respectively.
A truly promising future awaits Madis as she is also headed to the University of Hawaii in the United States later this year with a tennis scholarship after completing her high school studies.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
