Maristella Torrecampo
Never under-estimate Maristella Torrecampo. The pint sized lass packs more power in her tennis game than anyone can imagine.
At the ongoing ITF Asia Under-14 Development Championships at the Morodok Tennis Complex the third seeded Maristella dismantled Singapore’s Hannah Tay 6-2, 6-2 to storm into the semi-finals.
Don’t be surprised that in the near future you see her contesting against the cream of international stars at the WTA circuit. And don’t be shocked that she makes her presence on the pro-circuit with her doubles partner Ella Paglalunan.
The duo, were, however denied a spot in the girl’s doubles final. Despite fighting hard, they were beaten 2-6, 3-6 by Vietnam’s Nguyen Linh Nhi-To Binh Nhieh in the semi-finals.
The setback is unlikely to disrupt the duo’s determination to do better the next time and stamp their mark.
Maristella hails from the Bicol Province and Ella from the city of General Trias, Cavite. It takes between 9-12 hours by road for them to reach other back in the Philippines. They only get together for tournaments and train separately under the guidance of their respective fathers.
Maristella trains under the watchful eyes of her father Delfine while Ella with her father Rocky.
“We may not train together but we still keep in touch and hope to continue with the partnership,” said Maristella.
The pair won the doubles silver in week one and two at the same tournament last year in Sri Lanka.
Maristella made her mark at the junior competition back at home two years ago, winning both the U12 and U14 titles at the National Juniors Tennis Championships in Pasig City.
She stunned an older top seed Ave Maria Policarpio 6-0, 6-2 in the Under-14 final and ironically defeating her doubles partner Ella 6-0, 6-2 in the Under-12 final.
“We hope to help the Philippines do well at the World Juniors in Malaysia,” added the promising starlet, who was been dominating the Filipino junior tennis scene in recent years.
The ITF World Junior Team Competition for boys and girls Asia-Oceania qualifying stage will take place in Sarawak in late April.
The duo were also part of the Filipino U-12 team that finished 8th out of 12 countries in at the ATF Asia Finals in Kazakhstan in 2024.
Both Maristella and Ella also have siblings, who also play tennis. The duo also idolize different tennis legends that help mould their own game.
Maristella likes nine-time major champion Monica Seles, whose game is defined by her relentless power, unconventional technique, and extreme mental toughness.
Being much smaller than most of her opponents, Maristella’s mental strength, like Seles’ is also one her biggest advantage in the game.
As for Ella she adores both the legendary Serena Williams and the newly crowned Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina.
While Ella is already out of the tournament, she still has Week Two of the tournament to rebound back.
Maristella will be up against top seeded To Binh Nhieh in the semi-finals tomorrow. The Vietnamese lass defeated Kanza Ismail Hameed of the Maldives 6-2, 6-1.
It may look like tough for Maristella, but it would always be difficult to under-estimate the pocket dynamite from Bicol.
The other semi-final will see Mongolia’s Asiata Enkhzaya Adama, who stunned second seeded Singaporean Wang Zixi 6-3, 6-1 in the semi-finals, taking on Nguyen Linh Nhi of Vietnam.
There was also an upset in the boy’s singles, with Singapore’s top seeded Nicholas Ming En Pak succumbing to a 3-6, 3-6 defeat at the hands of Vietnam’s Le Phu Gia. Phu Gia will play Alexi Luca Aldemita in the semi-finals while second seeded Leon Ho Wei Xi of Singapore takes on another Vietnamese Vu Tuan Phong in the other semi-finals.
RESULTS
QUARTER-FINALS
Boys Singles: Le Phu Gia (Vie) bt Nicholas Ming En Pak (Sgp) 6-3, 6-3; Leon Ho Wei Xi (Sgp) bt Marcus Lorenzo Go (Phi) 6-2, 6-1; Vu Tuan Phong (Vie) bt Muhammad Muaz (Pak) 6-2, 7-6 (1); Alexi Luca Aldemita (Phi) bt Muhammad Ibraheem Gill (Pak) 6-2, 6-2
Girl’s Singles: Maristella Torrecampo (Phi) bt Hannah Tay (Sgp) 6-2, 6-2; Asiata Enkhzaya Adama (Mgl) bt Wang Zixi (Sgp) 6-3, 6-1; Nguyen Linh Nhi (Vie) bt Khalil Khajida (Pak) 6-0, 6-1; To Binh Nhieh (Vie) bt Kanza Ismail Hameed (Mdv) 6-2, 6-1;
SEMI-FINALS
Boys Doubles: Vu Tuan Phong-Le Phu Gia (Vie) bt Alexi Luca Rafael Aldemita-Marcus Lorenzo Go (Phi) 6-2, 6-2; Leon Ho Wei Xi-Nicholas Ming En Pak (Sgp) bt Pelthop Tshering-Tenzin Dudu (Bhu) 6-1, 6-1
Girls Doubles: Wang Zixi-Hannah Tay (Sgp) bt Mastora Arfin-Howlader Jannat (Ban) 6-1, 6-2; Nguyen Linh Nhi-To Binh Nhieh (Vie) bt Ella Mhae Paglalunan-Maristella Torrecampo (Phi) 6-2, 6-3
PLACEMENTS ROUND ONE
Boys Singles: IslamMd Jobair (Ban) bt Jovania Martins Da Silva (Tls) 6-0, 6-1; Chanthavong Phoupha (Cam) bt Pelthop Tshering (Bhu) 6-0, 6-0; Tenzin Dudu (Bhu) bt Sanaxay Chansomphou (Lao) 6-3, 6-3; Mean Sophanith (Cam) bt Xavier Brito (Tls) 6-3, 6-3; Rafi Al (Ban) bt Mohamed Alson (Mdv) 0-6, 6-4, 10-2; Aleksander Mikheichev (Cam) bt Yousuf Zaain Salaam (Mdv) 6-1, 6-0; Joel Lim (Bru) bt Munkhireedui (Mgl) 7-5, 6-1
Girls Singles: Ella Mhae Paglalunan (Phi) bt Sumeri Yangchen (Bhu) 6-0, 6-0; Jannat Howlader (Ban) bt Eesha Rabbi 6-1, 6-2; Goh Wei Rou (Bru) bt Mastora Afrin (Ban) 5-7, 6-4, 10-5; Phommavong Manixone (Lao) bt Yithro Yitshog Yidehenma (Bhu) 6-0, 6-0; Silivet Chantaphone (Lao) bt Lopes dos Santos (Tls) 6-1, 6-4; Isra Aara Ibrahim Shafeeu (Mdv) bt Makara Morn (Cam) 6-0, 6-0; Khuslen Munkhbayar (Mgl) bt Ofelia Soares (Tls) 6-0, 6-1
