Malaysia-bound Igacos netter

Saturday, January 28, 2012

IT'S going to be an uphill battle for 13-year-old Christian Fel Lopez of the Island Garden City of Samal (Igacos) when he dons the country's colors to the 2012 ITF World Junior Tennis Competition slated February 20 to 25 in Kuching, Malaysia.

En-En received a letter dated January 18 from Philippine Tennis Association (Philta) head coach Chris Cuarto who congratulated him for being part of the Malaysian-bound Team Philippines.

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His mother Filomena, an Igacos government employee like husband Elvie, said En-En had been training four times a week at Ecoland Phase 1 and Phase 2 courts with veteran Boy Manulat as trainer.

The upcoming tournament is a pre-qualifying stage for the World Juniors.

En-En was chosen by Philta by virtue of his national ranking in boys 14-under.

He also had stint in the prestigious Asian 14-Under Series held in Manila in October last year joining two other players from the Davao Region - Jeleardo Amazona of Davao Oriental and Jenni Celine Dizon of Davao City.

He had been a veteran in local, regional and national competitions even reaping medals and trophies for his many exploits.

His uncle, also a tennis player, introduced En-En to the sport at age six. The boy loved tennis in an instant. He since then was a regular figure at a tennis court nearby. He trains early morning before attending his classes then resumes practice right after his afternoon classes.

"Playing tennis is helping me so much in my studies. I am very grateful that I've learned to manage my time. I make sure that my sport will complement my studies and vice versa. I've observed that the more I win tournaments and make an accomplishment, the more motivated I become to finish my studies," En-En said in a past interview.

In just his competition debut year in 2007, he emerged a 10-under champion in the Head- Penn Junior Tennis Tournament in Dumaguete City, Milo Tennis Mindanao Regional Qualifying Tennis Tournament in Cagayan de Oro City and in the Milo Junior Tennis Cup in General Santos City.

He captured a silver medal in the Penang International Junior Tennis Championship in Penang, Malaysia. He also grabbed runner-up honors in the Head Junior Tennis Tournament in Cagayan de Oro and Milo Junior Tennis Cup in Tagbilaran City.

The moreno player also took home bronzes in the Milo Junior Tennis National Championship, Manila, and in the Northern Mindanao Age-Group Tennis Tournament in Cagayan de Oro.

He never ran out of titles since he entered the competitive world of tennis.

This Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal fan dreams of playing and winning in Grand Slam tournaments just like his idols.