The Philippines began its tennis campaign at the 20th Asian Games with contrasting outcomes on Sunday at the Higashiyama Park Tennis Center, as Tenny Madis bowed out in straight sets while the mixed doubles tandem of Francis Casey Alcantara and Shaira Rivera delivered the country’s first win.
Early Setback for Tenny Madis
Madis opened her women’s singles campaign on center court against Japan’s seventh seed and world No. 119 Himeno Sakatsume. The 19‑year‑old Filipina managed to take the opening game but struggled to sustain momentum, eventually falling, 1‑6, 0‑6.
Despite the defeat, the University of Hawai’i at Manoa freshman valued the experience of competing against one of Japan’s top players. “I’m excited po but at the same time I’m kinakabahan po kasi sa center court. But it’s an opportunity for me to play the center court and a seed seven player for Japan,” Madis told POC Media.
The inaugural PHILTA National Women’s Open champion admitted the match highlighted areas she needs to improve, particularly her physical preparation. “I need to train hard pa po talaga. I mean hindi lang double time kundi ten times pa na training. I need to palakasin pa yung muscles, yung physical ko po,” she added.
Madis remains in contention in women’s doubles, where she will partner Stefi Aludo against Indonesia’s Anjali Junarto and Meydiana Reinnamah.
Rivera and Alcantara Rally Past Iran
The Philippines then found success in mixed doubles, with Shaira Rivera and Francis Casey “Niño” Alcantara overcoming Iran’s Meshkatolzahra Safi and Kasra Rahmani in a tense opening‑round clash.
The Filipinos took the first set, 6‑4, with strong serving and returning, but Iran responded in the second, racing to a 6‑1 win to force a deciding 10‑point tiebreak. Rivera and Alcantara held their nerve despite a late push from their opponents, sealing the victory, 6‑4, 1‑6, 10‑8, after a weather‑related delay.
“First set, we were playing really well. We were like making returns, making our serves. And yeah, we got the break and that’s how doubles is. Like one break, you have to capitalize it and then, you know, go on and move on for the next one,” Alcantara said.
Rivera credited communication for helping them regain control. “After the second set, I was telling Kuya Nins, like, let’s slow down, you know, let’s talk, like point by point, you know, that kind of, like strategy,” she explained.
The win sends Rivera and Alcantara into the Round of 16, where they will face fifth‑seeded Japanese pair Shuko Aoyama and Yusuke Kusuhara.
What’s Next for Team Philippines
Madis and Aludo will return to action in women’s doubles, while top seed and world No. 18 Alex Eala is set to begin her women’s singles campaign after receiving a first‑round bye.
