Alcantara opens bid in Germany netfest with a win

MANILA, Philippines – Top Filipino junior netter Francis Casey “Niño" Alcantara started his singles bid in the 17th International Junior Tournament of Offenbach/Main on a bright note, beating his first round rival Wednesday in Offenbach/Main, Germany (Thursday in Manila). The 17-year-old pride of Cagayan de Oro disposed of qualifier Carlo Von Hainstein of Germany, 6-2, 7-6 (5) to advance into the Round of 32 of the Grade 1 clay tournament. Alcantara, the fifth seed in the meet, next faces Cedrick Commin of France, 7-6(3), 6-4 winner over wild card Jannis Kahlke of Germany in the opening round. Although he already owns a Grand Slam title, the 2009 Australian Open Juniors doubles plum, world no. 32 Alcantara is still in the lookout for his breakthrough win in singles this year. His lone success as a singles player came at the 2008 Phinma/ITF International Junior Tournament 1 in November in Manila and this year, his best finishes were Round of 16 appearances in junior meets in Thailand, Sarawak, Malaysia and the Philippines. A member of the RP Davis Cup team that beat Hong Kong early this year, Alcantara has been more successful in doubles play. Aside from the Australian Open Juniors plum he won with Hsieh Cheng Peng of Taipei, Alcantara has ruled the ITF/LTAT Junior Championships in Thailand with Liang Chi Huang also of Taipei; the 13th Sarawak Chief Minister’s Cup-ITF World Junior Tennis Championships in Malaysia with Daniel Berta of Sweden; and the 20th Mitsubishi Lancer International Junior Championships in the Philippines, also with Berta. At last week's Roland Garros Junior Championships, Alcantara got the boot in the first round of the boys’ singles competition and bowed out in the second round of the doubles hostilities. The Filipino ace is seeking to compete at the next majors, the Wimbledon juniors, later this month. - GMANews.TV