By Edwin Rollon
Motherhood has only made Marian Capadocia stronger.
Just seven months after giving birth to a healthy baby boy via C-section, the former Philippine No. 1 and 10-time PCA Open champion showed that the heart of a mother can be just as powerful on the tennis court.
Defying expectations and battling against younger rivals, the 30-year-old veteran delivered another masterclass performance, dismantling eighth seed Althea Ong, 6-2, 6-3, on Tuesday to punch her way into the quarterfinals of the Palawan Open 2026 co-presented by Gentry Timepieces at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.
For Capadocia, the victory was more than just another win — it was a testament to sacrifice, resilience, and the relentless spirit of a mother fighting her way back to the sport she loves.
After undergoing childbirth and months of recovery, Capadocia has returned stronger, sharper, and more determined. Fresh from a commanding 6-1, 6-1 opening-round victory over wild card Judy Ann Padilla, the seasoned campaigner once again showcased her tactical brilliance, steady composure, and exceptional court coverage despite the punishing summer heat.
Now standing as one of only two unranked players left in the Last Eight, Capadocia has quickly emerged as the tournament’s biggest surprise — and perhaps its most dangerous contender.
"My comeback is not luck. It’s discipline, sacrifice, and belief," said Capadocia in her Facebook post.
But the road ahead gets even tougher.
To keep her inspiring comeback alive, Capadocia must overcome second-seed Stefi Aludo in a marquee quarterfinal showdown in the P2-million tournament on Wednesday.
Aludo enters the clash well-rested and in dominant form after crushing Princess Tana, 6-0, 6-0, before advancing via walkover against Mica Emana.
Meanwhile, La Salle standout Annika Diwa continued her breakout run in the women’s division. Following her upset victory over third seed Tiffany Nocos, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, Diwa sustained her momentum by defeating Joanna Peña, 6-3, 6-4, to secure a quarterfinal berth. She now awaits the winner between Louraine Jallorina and Akshita Antil.
Top seeds also asserted their dominance despite the scorching conditions.
Top seed Tennielle Madis followed up her opening-round shutout of Althea Azores with a commanding 6-0, 6-1 victory over Mikaela Vicencio to arrange a blockbuster quarterfinal duel against No. 5 Elizabeth Abarquez.
Fourth seed Kaye-Ann Emana also rolled through the draw, while No. 7 Niña Alcala survived a grueling three-set thriller against Paula Uy.
In the men’s division, tournament favorites continued their strong campaigns.
Top seed Digvijay Singh of India overwhelmed Jeremiah Latorre, 6-1, 6-0, while second seed AJ Lim breezed past Mcleen Gomera, 6-1, 6-2.
Third seed Eric Jed Olivarez, fourth seed Christopher Papa of the US, and India’s Parth Aggarwal also advanced with impressive victories as the race for the coveted Palawan Open crown intensified.
The doubles competitions were equally fierce.
Top seeds Casey Alcantara and Christopher Papa dominated in men’s doubles, while the women’s tandem of Tennielle Madis and Stefi Aludo advanced via walkover. The sibling pair of Kaye-Ann and Mica Emana also impressed with a dominant straight-set victory.
The Palawan Group of Companies is the tournament's sponsor, while Philta and the Universal Tennis Rating sanction it.
