Filipina tennis player Tenny Madis. POC Media
NAGOYA, Japan – Filipina tennis player Tenny Madis bowed out of the women’s singles event at the 20th Asian Games on Sunday.
Madis fell to hometown bet Himeno Sakatsume in straight sets, 1-6, 0-6, in the first match on center court at the Higashiyama Park Tennis Center.
The WTA No. 119 Japanese star proved too much for Madis, dictating the pace from the start of the game.
Madis put up a gallant stand against the hometown bet, but ultimately lost the match.
“I need to train hard pa po talaga. I mean hindi lang double time kungdi ten times pa na training. I need to palakasin pa yung muscles, yung physical ko po,” she told POC Media.
The M'lang, North Cotabato native relished the opportunity to play on center court against a formidable opponent.
“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 shared.
The 19-year old said her training with the University of Hawai'i at Manoa helped prepare her and women's doubles teammate Stefi Aludo for the Asian Games.
"We'll do our best. Gagapangin namin tomorrow yung laro namin. Kakayanin po namin," Madis said.
"I'm so very thankful and blessed sa lahat ng lahat na binigay sa akin ng Philippine tennis. Pato po yung PHILTA, yung suporta po nila sa akin. I will always thank God for this opportunity na binigay niya sa akin and my family, my friends," he explained.
Madis will stil compete in the women's doubles event, as she and Aludo open their campaign against Indonesia's Anjali Junarto and Meydiana Reinnamah.