“Notable Moments Throughout the Years at Roland-Garros”

The Roland-Garros, also known as the French Open, is one out of four tennis Grand Slam tournaments and is one of the most awaited sports events of the year.  To welcome the start of this year’s French Open, here are the most notable events in the history of this tournament.

Also known as the French Open, the tournament began in 1891 and is played over two weeks at the Stade Roland-Garros in Paris, France. It’s held on a clay court — the only one to do so out of the four Grand Slams — resulting in a slow-playing surface. That, together with the seven rounds it plays out for a championship and best-of-five-set men’s singles, many consider it as one of the most physically challenging tournaments in the world of tennis. 

Veteran Philippine Netters Reign Supreme at the PPTO Manila leg

It was a battle between tennis veterans at the Peugeot Philippines Tennis Open (PPTO) Manila leg last February 1-7, 2016, at the Valle Verde Country Club. Thirty-seven year-old netter Rolando Ruel, Jr. decisively defeated Patrick John Tierro with the score of 6-2, 6-1, to bag the PPTO Manila leg’s men’s singles title. Ruel is currently the Philippines’ No. 5 player, while Tierro is the Ateneo de Manila University men’s tennis team head coach and Philippines’ no. 4 netter.

Meanwhile, National University tennis team coaching staff Ronard Joven and Karl Santamaria showed the youngsters how it’s done by beating  San Beda’s Noel Damian and Davis Alano in an exciting 6-4, 7-5 match.

Arcilla, Espinosa Rule Cebu Leg of the Peugeot Philippines Tennis Open

Johnny Arcilla proved why he is Philippine Tennis Association Men’s Singles Number 2 after defeating Number 3 Francis Casey Alcantara to emerge as the men’s singles champion of the Peugeot Philippines Tennis Open Cebu leg held recently at the Cebu Country Club.

Despite bowing to Alcantara in the first set at 4-6, Arcilla bounced back with a 7-5, 6-4 finish to clinch one of the last few slots of the PPTO National Finals in March.

PH’s Top Tennis Players Face Off in PPTO Nueva Ecija Leg

Edilyn Balanga battled her way to winning the PPTO Nueva Ecija
leg women’s singles and women’s doubles championships.

The Peugeot Philippines Tennis Open (PPTO) Nueva Ecija leg recently saw some of the country’s best tennis players battle it out to bag the championship crowns at the Center Court Tennis Club in Cabanatuan City.

Current Philippine Tennis Association’s (PHILTA) Women’s Singles No. 6 Edilyn Balanga faced No. 7 Marinel Rudas in the championship match of the third regional qualifier leg of the PPTO. Balanga emerged triumphant, 6-3, 6-4.

Before their women’s singles championship duel, Balanga and Rudas teamed up for the doubles championship match against Hanna Espinosa and Erika Manduriao. The latter’s combined firepower was no match for Balanga and Rudas as proven by a 6-3, 6-5 scoreboard.

Palawan’s Santos Wins Big at the PPTO Bacolod leg

Fifteen year-old Alexie Santos of Puerto Princesa, Palawan ruled the Bacolod regional leg of the Peugeot Philippines Tennis Open (PPTO) last November 23-29, 2015, bagging both the women’s singles championship and women’s doubles championship with her mother, Melinda Santos. The mother and daughter tandem has secured their places in the PPTO National Finals scheduled in February 2016.