Local players advance in J60 Puerto Rico Bowl in Bayamón.

By THE STAR STAFF

The international J60 Puerto Rico Bowl U18 tournament, part of the ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors, began this week with an intense day of matches in Bayamón, where several Puerto Rican players secured important victories in the opening round-robin stage.

In the women’s draw, Puerto Rican Aurora Lugo, the tournament’s top seed, opened her campaign with a commanding 6–1, 6–1 victory over Japan’s Haru Ishida. Meanwhile, Carolina Castro, the event’s second seed, defeated American Lily Sloan 6–0, 6–2 to start strong in her group.

Also standing out was Gabriela Nicole Rodríguez Abreu, who defeated Canada’s Mia Trgovcevic 6–4, 6–4, while Bela Martínez Rivero earned a solid 6–2, 6–0 win against Arianna Deb-Baruah.

In the men’s draw, Canada’s Kye McDadi, the tournament’s top seed, dominated his debut with a 6–1, 6–0 victory over Puerto Rico’s Cyrus Josephs. Likewise, Britain’s Darsh Sachin Patel, the second seed, defeated American Indra Vergne 6–3, 6–2.

Other players who opened the tournament with wins included Italy’s Rafael Gama, Canada’s Benjamin Perreault, and the United States’ Carson Kuchar, who all claimed victories in their respective groups.

Rosa Martínez, executive director of the Puerto Rico Tennis Association (PRTA), highlighted the competitive level that has characterized the start of the event.

“This tournament represents a great opportunity for our players to compete against top international talent without leaving Puerto Rico. The Puerto Rico Bowl continues positioning itself as an important platform for the development of junior tennis in the region,” Martínez said.

Tournament action continued Tuesday with multiple matches in both the men’s and women’s draws at the courts of the Bayamón complex.

Among the highlighted matches featuring Puerto Rican players were: Cyrus Josephs (PUR) vs. Tristan Ascenzo (USA), Marco Pérez (PUR) vs. Tomas Orrego (USA), Julian Parnell (PUR) vs. Felix Vallee (CAN), Ernesto del Valle (PUR) vs. Pierre-Olivier Hay (CAN), Daniela Sartori (PUR) vs. Shristi Selvan (USA), Carolina Castro (PUR) vs. Amalia Bures (PUR), Lara Sofía Rodríguez Jiménez (PUR) vs. Mia Trgovcevic (CAN), Aurora Lugo (PUR) vs. Grace Dollar (USA), Fabiola Díaz (PUR) vs. Sofia Kedrin (USA), Jade Nahir Garip (PUR) vs. Gabriella Rosenberg (USA), Valentina Fuentes Bigio (PUR) vs. Arina Vansovich, Gabriela Nicole Rodríguez Abreu (PUR) vs. Isabella González Álvarez (USA), and Bela Martínez Rivero (PUR) vs. Gabriela Barreto Campo (COL).

The J60 Puerto Rico Bowl U18 brings together junior players from several countries this week, consolidating its position as one of the most important international tournaments on Puerto Rico’s junior tennis calendar.