Filipino Jana Jelena Nicole Diaz returns a forehand against No. 8 Korean Rae Youn Kim in the ITF J30 Manila 2 at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center hardcourt on Thursday (Dec. 4, 2025). Diaz won, 7-6 (2), 6-4. (Contributed photo)
Batang Pinoy back-to-back champion Jana Jelena Nicole Diaz continued her sharp run on home soil, barging into the girls’ singles quarterfinals of the ITF J30 Manila 2 after ousting No. 8 seed Rae Youn Kim of Korea, 7-6 (2), 6-4, Thursday at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.
Diaz, currently No. 1 in U16 and No. 3 in U18 in the Philta rankings, now sets up an all-Filipino showdown with No. 2 seed Stefi Marithe Aludo for a coveted Final Four berth. Aludo earlier dominated Singaporean Tanisha Kantam, 6-2, 6-2, to position herself as a strong title contender.
Top seed Tennielle Madis also punched her ticket to the quarters in emphatic fashion, blanking China’s He Yuling, 6-0, 6-0. She will next face No. 6 seed Emma Lam Singh of Singapore, who turned back Taiwanese qualifier Tzu-Yi Hsueh, 7-6 (5), 6-1.
Korea’s third seed Seojin Park overcame Filipina Louraine Jallorina, 6-2, 6-3, while fourth seed Pimlaphat Lim of Thailand survived a gritty three-setter against Taiwan’s Meng Tung Chi, 6-2, 1-6, 6-2, to complete the girls’ quarterfinal cast. Park will take on No. 7 Thai Paweenon Nualsri, while Lim meets Korea’s No. 5 seed Gyuree Nam, who escaped Thailand’s Pimpisa Wongwanitkajon, 6-1, 4-6, 7-5.
In the boys’ division, Japanese standout and first-leg champion Aoi Ishizaki delivered another statement win, dismantling third seed Ariyaphol Leekul of Thailand, 6-2, 6-1. Ishizaki sets up a duel with compatriot Shun Munetoh, who ousted eighth seed Ethan Matthew Koh of Singapore, 6-2, 7-6 (5). Ishizaki previously defeated Munetoh, 7-5, 6-2, in last Sunday’s finals.
Top seed Gyeom Do of Korea outlasted Filipino hopeful Kenzo Marcus Brodeth, 7-5, 6-7 (5), 6-1, while No. 2 Ruochen Gao of China eased past Taiwan’s Ziche Chen, 6-3, 6-2. Also advancing were Thailand’s No. 4 Napat Pattanalertphan and the Japanese trio of No. 5 Kango Edoh, No. 6 Kuranosuke Suzuki, and Lyoma Hotelier, keeping the boys’ draw tightly contested heading into the quarterfinal phase.