PRESS RELEASE – Better preparation for Guam’s tropical weather paid off for the Philippines’ Kyle Joshua Dandan, who nabbed his first professional world ranking point with a 7-6(1), 6-2 win over Japan’s Kazuma Kawachi in Day 1 action of the 2014 Delta Guam Futures tennis tournament at the Hilton Guam Resort & Spa tennis courts.

“The last time I played in a tournament here in Guam, I cramped really bad and had to retire from the match,” said Dandan, who had played in Hilton’s Guam International Tennis Open in 2005 and 2006. “This time, I really prepared for the Futures tournament based on my previous time playing tennis in Guam. I ran everyday for endurance, I stayed focused in training, and I’ve been keeping myself hydrated, as I remembered it to be very humid in Guam.

“I really would like to thank Torgun (Smith, Delta Guam Futures tournament director) for giving me a wild card for the main draw of this tournament. I’ve been trying to earn professional points in tournaments in the United States, but it has been tough with the larger field of players in the qualifiers – in some cases, I would need to win four matches just to make it into the main draw. Earning my very first ATP World Ranking point feels like I’ve just won a tournament,” added the 25-year-old from Manila, Philippines.

Guam’s Joshua Cepeda extends for a forehand in a Day 1 singles match of the 2014 Delta Guam Futures tennis tournament against No. 8 Jun Woong-Sun of Korea Republic at the Hilton Guam Resort & Spa tennis courts. Jun prevailed over Cepeda 6-0, 6-0. (courtesy photo)

Dandan, an ITF World Junior Championship singles and doubles champion, also played tennis for the Santa Clara University Broncos for four years from 2008 to 2012, according to the Broncos’ Web site. He was the team’s top seed for three years and helped the Broncos achieve its highest Intercollegiate Tennis Association ranking to date – No. 29 on March 6, 2012. As a junior player, Dandan also played in junior Grand Slam tournaments and helped the Philippines qualify for the World Group in the Junior Davis Cup.

In other singles action in Day 1, the United States’ Thomas Shubert defeated Japan’s Tomohiro Masabayashi 6-1, 6-3. No. 6 Gengo Kikuchi defeated Japanese compatriot Hiromasa Oku 6-4, 6-3. No. 7 Katsuki Nagao cruised past Australian junior Benard Bruno Nkomba 6-1, 6-3. No. 5 Jui-Chen Hung of Chinese Taipei outlasted Australia’s Thomas Fancutt in a three-hour match, 2-6, 7-6(3), 7-6(2). Japan’s Ko Suzuki defeated qualifier Ryota Hisamatsu 6-4, 6-2. India’s Neeraj Elangovan gave up nine games to Guam’s Daniel Llarenas, winning 7-5, 6-4 and No. 8 Woong-Sun Jun defeated Guam’s Joshua Cepeda 6-0, 6-0. Cepeda entered the main draw as the “lucky loser” from the qualifier, replacing Uzbekistan’s Vaja Uzakov, who did not check in for his match.

In doubles play, No. 1 Takuto Niki and Bumpei Sato defeated Jun and partner Hyun-Soo Lim 6-4, 6-4 to set up a quarterfinal match against Elangovan/Shubert 6-2, 6-3 winners over Kawachi and partner David Barclay. No. 2 Hung and partner Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan defeated Cepeda and Brian Tuncap, Jr. 6-0, 6-0 to set up a quarterfinal meeting with Masabayashi and partner Yuuya Kibi, 6-2, 6-3 winners over Koichi Sano and Masaki Sasai.

Singles and doubles action continues Tuesday. The order of play and updated draws are posted at the Hilton tennis courts, and the Guam National Tennis Federation Facebook page, facebook.com/GuamTennis

PHOTO GALLERY:

Takuto Niki plays a deep forehand allowing partner Bumpei Sato to race to the net in anticipation for the next shot against Jun Woong-Sun and partner Lim Hyun-Soo in a Day 1 doubles match of the 2014 Delta Guam Futures tennis tournament at the Hilton Guam Resort & Spa tennis courts. No. 1 Niki/Sato defeated Jun/Lim 6-4, 6-4. (courtesy photo)

Guam’s Daniel Llarenas gets into position to play a forehand return to India’s Neeraj Elangovan in a Day 1 singles match of the 2014 Delta Guam Futures tennis tournament at the Hilton Guam Resort & Spa tennis courts. Elangovan prevailed 7-5, 6-4. (courtesy photo)

Japan’s Gengo Kikuchi puts power in a forehand return to compatriot Hiromasa Oku in a Day 1 singles match of the 2014 Delta Guam Futures tennis tournament at the Hilton Guam Resort & Spa tennis courts. Kikuchi won 6-4, 6-3. (courtesy photo)

Korea Republic’s Jun Woong-Sun extends to serve the ball to Guam’s Joshua Cepeda in a Day 1 singles match of the 2014 Delta Guam Futures tennis tournament at the Hilton Guam Resort & Spa tennis courts. Jun defeated Cepeda 6-0, 6-0. (courtesy photo)

Chinese Taipei’s Jui-Chen Hung plays a forehand return to Australia’s Thomas Fancutt in a Day 1 singles match of the 2014 Delta Guam Futures tennis tournament at the Hilton Guam Resort & Spa tennis courts. Hung won the three-hour long marathon match 2-6, 7-6(3), 7-6(2). (courtesy photo)