By Jean Malanum

TRIUMPHANT. Filipino Tennielle Madis (right) and Russian partner Vlada Guryleva during the awarding ceremony of the 3rd UAE ITF Juniors at TopSpin Sports Center in Dubai on Saturday (Jan. 25, 2025). They beat second seeds Pavla Sviglerova of Czech Republic and Inka Wawrzkiewicz of Poland, 6-4, 6-4, in the girls’ doubles final. (Contributed photo/Robert Angelo)

MANILA – The Philippines’ Tennnielle Madis and Russian Vlada Guryleva downed second seeds Pavla Sviglerova of Czech Republic and Inka Wawrzkiewicz of Poland, 6-4, 6-4, in the girls’ doubles final of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) ITF Juniors at TopSpin Sports Center in Dubai on Saturday.

On their way to the final, the top-ranked pair beat Olivia Cela and Kornelia Krzesniak of Poland (6-2, 6-4), Yuhan Chen of China and Diya Ramesh of India (6-0, 6-2), and fourth seeds Anastasia Efremova and Alena Kharchenko of Russia (6-4, 6-3).

Sviglerova and Wawrzkiewicz, on the other hand, prevailed over Sophia Budacsek of the United States and Ophelia Korpanec of Great Britain (6-4, 6-0), Arina Malygina and Alina Yuneva of Russia (2-6, 6-3, 10-5), and Lila Grace Bachour of France and Vittoria Vignolini of Italy (4-6, 6-1, 10-8).

“Without my partner, I won’t be able to achieve this victory,” Madis said via online on Saturday. “Teamwork and communication made us win.”

It was Madis’ second doubles title in the UAE after winning in Fujairah two weeks ago with Ui Su Jeong of South Korea.

The 17-year-old netter from M’lang, North Cotabato also gave credit to his coach, Robert Angelo.

Angelo, a former Davis Cupper and Southeast Asian Games medalist who is now the Philippine Tennis Academy (PTA) head coach, was impressed with her ward.

“Like what I have said before, Tenny has the talent. She needs more exposure. She has to join big tournaments to improve her skills,” he said.

Madis bagged six singles and five doubles titles last year. Four of her doubles titles were with PTA teammate Stefi Marithe Aludo in the J60 events in Manila, China, Thailand and Sri Lanka. (PNA)