Alcantara leads cast in Mitsubishi tennis

MANILA, Philippines - Rising tennis star Francis Casey “Niño” Alcantara spearheads the country’s bid to end a long title drought in the Mitsubishi Lancer International Junior Tennis Championships, which comes off the wraps next month at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

The 17-year old Alcantara will be coming into the March 23-29 tournament now on its 20th year just two months from his historic Australian Open victory, where he teamed up with Cheng-Peng Hsieh of Chinese-Taipei to win the doubles title.

The first Filipino to win a tennis grandslam, Alcantara will now try his hand in ending the country’s misfortunes in a junior international meet that had Maricris Fernandez as the last local player to emerge victorious in 1995 (singles title).

“Actually it’s not only Niño Alcantara who will be in the limelight but other newcomers and upcoming local talents,” said Philippine Tennis Association (Philta) president Julito Villanueva, mentioning the likes of Jason Patrombon, Miko Santiago and the Patrimonio sisters – Anna Christine and Anna Clarice.

He said top junior player Bambi Zoleta is being convinced to see action in the weeklong tournament.

“But we have bigger chances among the boys because of Niño, and perhaps, Jason can pull off an upset,” he added.

Villanueva appeared in the weekly PSA Forum at the Shakey’s UN Avenue branch together with Arlan Reyes and Froi Dytianquin of the sponsoring Mitsubishi Motors.

Reyes takes pride that the event organized by one of the country’s leading automotive manufacturers has come a long way and produced some of today’s top tennis superstars, mentioning the likes of former world No.1 Lleyton Hewitt, top US player Andy Roddick and doubles specialist Leander Paes of India.