FORMER Davao City tennis standout Shaira Rivera, now based in the U.S., pulled off a surprising singles victory over Uzbekistan’s Nigina Abduraimova—ranked 898th in the world—during the 2025 Billie Jean King Cup held in Malaysia from June 16 to 21.
Representing the Philippines in Group B, Rivera stepped up after the national team suffered an early loss to Indonesia, 3-0, in the opening round. Though their defeat prevented them from advancing to Group I—the highest among the tournament’s divisions—Rivera was given the chance to play singles the next day against Uzbekistan.
“I was scared when I found out I’d be playing singles,” Rivera, who recently graduated with a degree in Sports and Fitness Administration Management University of West Alabama, USA, admitted. “But at the same time, I was excited to play for my country.”
Overcoming her nerves, the Monkayo native delivered a stunning performance, defeating Abduraimova in a match that later turned out to be a personal milestone. She only learned after the game that her opponent was ranked in the global top 900.
The Philippines was grouped with Uzbekistan, Iran, Indonesia, and Pacific Oceania in Group B, while Group A included Mongolia, Malaysia, Singapore, Kurdistan, and the Northern Mariana Islands. The top two teams in each group advanced to the semifinals, with a chance to be promoted to Group I.
Despite their initial loss, the Philippine team bounced back with wins against Iran and Pacific Oceania. Rivera noted that after her match against Uzbekistan, the team focused on recovery and conserving energy for the following rounds.
Rivera was a bronze medalist at the Hanoi 2022 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.
She began playing tennis at age 10 at Monkayo Central Elementary School. Her skills quickly stood out, earning her a Palarong Pambansa doubles gold in 2012 while representing Davraa. After Typhoon Pablo hit her hometown, she moved to Davao City under the guidance of coach Marivic Loquinario and brought home more golds in regional meets and Palaro while studying at Sta. Ana National High School.
She later became a Philippine Tennis Academy scholar and completed high school at De La Salle Santiago Zobel. In five Palarong Pambansa appearances, she won four golds and one silver. Shai then played for the Ateneo de Manila University tennis varsity team before continuing her studies in the United States. Hannah Katrina Marisse Martinez, AdDU Intern