Pinoys on a mission in ITF juniors tilt

The country’s top junior netters are expected to play with a mission when they compete in the 21st Mitsubishi Lancer International Tennis Championships starting Tuesday at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

Francis Casey Alcantara and Jeson Patrombon lead the local bets who will try to hold fort for the locals and spoil the challenge of top foreign junior netters in the Grade I event sanctioned by the International Tennis Federation (ITF). “We have 20 boys and 19 girls in the [ITF’s] top 100 [junior ranking] seeing action in the 48-man main draw so it is really a tough field to compete in," said Philippine Tennis Association (Philta) vice president Ajay Pathak. Leading the foreign charge are Mate Zsiga of Hungary and Irina Khromacheva of Russia, who are both ranked ninth by the ITF in their respective divisions. Alcantara and Patrombon, however, are poised to give their best since a solid performance here will allow them to make a strong case for a stint in the 1st Youth Olympic Games in Singapore from August 14 to 26. The top 50 junior netters will be allowed to compete in the Youth Olympics with Alcantara almost assured of a slot with his current 39th rating in the ITF ranking. Patrombon, however, is still to work for a slot owing to his 195th placing in the ITF list. “Patrombon is playing well lately and in fact, he reached the semifinals in the ITF event in Thailand last week. I really think we can count on a good showing from him in this tournament," said Philta head Julito Villanueva. For Patrombon to advance to the Youth Olympiad, he must win at least two titles or make it to the semifinals in five ITF Grade I competitions such as the Lancer tilt. Alcantara is already seeded to the main draw and he will also try to surpass last year’s feat – a doubles title in partnership with Daniel Berta of Sweden. That performance stood as the best for the Filipino netters since Maricris Fernandez won her third singles title during the 1997 edition. Patrombon will play in the main draw via one of six wild card berths allotted to the hosts. Clarice Patrimonio will banner the campaign of the RP girls, who will be hard-pressed to score upset victories against highly favored rivals, led by world no. 28 and defending champion Leykina Polina of Russia. – GMANews.TV