Philippines and Ukraine were among the girls’ teams to seal their place in the quarter-finals of the ITF World Junior Tennis Finals in Prostejov and then immediately reassess their ambitions for the remainder of the competition.

Not since 2003 have the Philippines reached the Finals, while their girls last competed at the business end of the tournament in 1993, but they are certainly making their presence felt on the clay of the TK Plus Arena.

Following a nervy doubles victory over China, which was decided by a match tiebreak, the Philippines ensured they will contest the knockout phase, as will fellow Group B outfit USA, who defeated Venezuela for their second successive 3-0 rout.

Ukraine will join the Philippines in the last eight following an emphatic 3-0 thrashing of South Africa, while top seeds Switzerland blitzed Brazil 3-0 to ensure there are no qualification conundrums to resolve in Group A either tomorrow.

Philippines No. 1 Alexandra Eala hauled her side level in the tie with a singles victory over Ye Minjia before teaming up with Alexa Joy Milliam to eventually dispatch Ye and Cai Jiatong 6-7 6-3 (10-3).

“Getting through the group stage was our first goal and now we have to set new ones,” Eala told itftennis.com. “We’re not going to stop here; we’re going to try and try. Our next goal is to be first in the group so we might potentially have better opponents in the quarter-finals.

“The doubles was very hard, very close and extremely nerve-racking. Our opponents were very good players but I did my best as No. 1 to lead the team.”

Despite her tender years, compared to her team-mates 14-year-old Eala is an old hand at representing her country, but her pride at doing so and winning with the flag of her nation on her chest is obvious.

“You don’t see a lot of Filipino players out there and to be one of them, representing my country and doing well, I feel that reflects well on the country and shows how hard we work,” she added. “The Filipinos are very underrated so to be able to add to their status is good.”

Ukraine – represented by Alisa Baranovska, Daria Yesypchuk and Anna Vashchenko – will also bid to flex their muscle in the last eight, although captain Stanislav Poplavskyy believes there is no limit to his side’s potential. Speaking to itftnenis.com, he said: “They can be top four here and then we will see what they can do. We will continue to fight and, honestly, I can see them in the final of this tournament.

“I don’t know if they expect this. One month ago I don’t think they would have expected to come here and do what they have done already. But I keep saying to them that every day they need to focus on this day and not on what has happened before.

“They have done a great job. They have played with much more confidence since qualifying and they now really understand themselves and their teammates and are approaching their best. They are playing high-quality tennis.”

There is much to still determine in Group C. Greece, appearing at the Finals for the first time in their history, could have guaranteed themselves a place in the quarter-finals but squandered match points in a decisive doubles match tiebreak.

Italy, meanwhile, reignited their World Junior Tennis campaign as Giada Rossi and Federica Urgesi refused to be beaten and overcame Michaela Laki and Athina Pitta 4-6 6-3 (11-9). Italy face winless Serbia tomorrow, while Greece go head-to-head with Canada, who are the only unbeaten team in the group after defeating Serbia 2-1.

Except for who secures top spot, matters have largely been resolved in Group D after second seeds Czech Republic and Japan both made it back-to-back victories by dispatching Korea and Egypt respectively.

Czech Brenda Fruhvirtova ensured she navigated her first three matches here without losing a solitary game, although her ruthless run came to an end in the doubles as she and older sister Linda could only muster a 6-0 6-2 triumph.