Tennis: Patrombon advances to round 16 of ITF

By Lily O Ramos

MANILA, March 11 (PNA) -- Filipino tennis ace Jeson Patrombon on Wednesday upset 16th-seed American Campbell Johnson to join compatriot Francis Casey Alcantara in the round 16 of the Grade 1 International Tennis Federation (ITF) Juniors in Nonthaburi, Thailand.

The determined Patrombon humbled the world's ranked No. 90 junior netter, 2-6, 7-5, 6-4 in a three-hour match which saw both players hitting hard strokes.

With his triumph, Patrombon has arranged a duel of 16 with third-seed Dominic Thiem of Austria for a place in the quarterfinals.

On the other hand, tournament fourth-seed Alcantara prevailed over Xin Gao of China, 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 to set up a meeting with Australia's James Duckworth, a 6-1, 7-6 winner over New Zealand's Barret Franks.

Meanwhile, in the doubles competition, Patrombon teamed up with Nuttanon Kadchapanan of Thailand to crush Athare of India and Sergey Shipilov of Uzbekistan, 6-3, 6-3 to advance in the second round.

Patrombon and Kadchapanan will take on the Australian duo of Dukworth and Bedjamin Mitchell in the second round.

Alcantara, who paired up with Krittin Koaykul of Thailand, was less fortunate when their partnership lost to the German doubles Patrick Elias and Matthias Wunner, 4-6, 6-3, 16-10.(PNA)
LDV/LOR