Patrombon provides relief to embattled PH tennis

(MB) MANILA, Philippines – Jeson Patrombon provided a measure of relief for the embattled Filipino tennisters as he overpowered German Patrick Elias, 6-3, 6-3 to barge into the third round of the 22nd Mitsubishi-Lancer International Juniors Championships at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

Patrombon, who enjoys the rare accolade of being the top seed in this tournament which is in its 22nd year without missing a break, wasted five match points before nailing the victory on the sixth with forehand down-the-line shot which Elias returned to the net.

“Atat na akong manalo nun kaya nanggigil ako. Pero nakapag-adjust naman ako kaagad,” said Patrombon, a quarterfinalist of the Australian Open last January, who was up 40-0 in the eighth game but was forced to two deuces before prevailing.

“Magaling ang kalaban ko, puro baseline yung atake nya,” said Patrombon of his rival.

He was broken twice but his forehands winners saved him most of the time. He broke his rival four times.

Patrombon next faces the winner between Jordan Thompson of Australia and No. 14 Luis Patino of Mexico, who are playing at presstime.

He must keep his hot form to keep the country’s bid alive after six other local wildcard berths were eliminated by their foreign rivals.

In all, 12 Filipinos have been booted out of the tournament in the first round – a development that mirrored the sad plight of the sport in the country.

In the first day, Tamitha Nguyen, Clarice Patrimonio, Marinel Rudas, Anne Rene Castillo, Calvin Canlas and Marian Jade Capadocia suffered crushing defeats at the hands of their unseeded foreign rivals.

They were joined Wednesday by Jurence Mendoza, Enrique Ferrer and Andrew Joshua Cano.

Mendoza surrendered to Taiwanese Jao Chi-Shan, 6-3, 7-6 (6), Ferrer bowed to Canadian qualifier Edward Nguyen, 6-0, 6-0 and Cano yielded to Chinese Cao Zhaoyi, 6-1, 6-0.

Also eliminated were Juan Alfonso Opulencia, who absorbed a 6-0, 6-0 thrashing from Australian Nick Kyrgios, Kyle Parpan, who lost to Japanese qualifier Soichiro Moritani, 6-2, 6-1; and Maika Tanpoco, who dropped a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 decision to Belgian Klaartje Liebens.

Australian qualifier Joey Swaysland produced the day’s biggest win by downing No. 5 Jannick Lupescu, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3.

Also posting big wins were Australian Nick Kyrgios, who surprised Stefan Lindmark of the Netherlands, 6-3, 6-3; and qualifier Edward Nguyen of Canada who beat No. 11 Teodor Marin of Romania, 6-3, 6-4.

Australian Open finalist and fourth seed Luke Saville cruised to a 6-4, 6-2 triumph over American Emmett Egger, while Belgian eighth pick Kimmer Coppejans beat Mexican Juan Pablo Murra, 6-4, 6-4