Filipina tennis standout Tennielle Madis of the Philippine Tennis Academy opened her campaign strong at the ITF J300 Kuching in Malaysia, defeating China’s Zhang-Qian Wei, 6-1, 6-3, on Wednesday at the Sarawak Lawn Tennis Association courts.
Madis will next face No. 9 seed Anastasia Lizunova of Russia, who had a first-round bye. Other top seeds in the tournament include Japan’s Reina Goto (No. 1) and Kanon Sawashiro (No. 2), India’s Maaya Rajeshwaran Revathi (No. 3), and Thailand’s Kamonwan Yodpetch (No. 4).
In doubles, Madis is partnered with Australian Jizelle Sibai. The pair will go up against Japan’s Yusuha Negishi and Riyo Yoshida in the next round.
The 17-year-old Madis, ranked No. 212 in the ITF Juniors singles rankings, hails from M’lang, North Cotabato. Just last week, she and Russia’s Alexandra Malova finished as runners-up in the J200 doubles final in Kuala Lumpur, bowing to Australian sisters Renee and Rianna Alame, 1-6, 2-6.
“I hope Tenny performs well, she’s a fighter, I know she’ll give her best in every match,” said former Davis Cup player and SEA Games medalist Robert Angelo in an online interview.
Madis is set to compete next at the J300 Nonthaburi Closed Regional Championships in Thailand from April 28 to May 3.
Earlier this year, she bagged two doubles titles in the UAE. In 2024, she secured five doubles crowns, including four alongside PTA teammate Stefi Marithe Aludo in various J60 events across Asia.