Alcantara annexes Week 2 singles title

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines’ Francis Casey Alcantara overpowered Belgium’s Jeroen Vanneste, 6-2, 6-3, to complete a stirring sweep of both Weeks 1 and 2 of the Phinma International Juniors Week 2 at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

It was the 17-year-old Alcantara’s second straight title in as many weeks and fourth overall after copping the Week 1 crown last year and Week 2 two years ago in this tournament sponsored by the Phinma Group of Companies.

The triumph was also the third for the pride of Cagayan de Oro City after his doubles win in the tough Grand Slam Australian Juniors Open doubles title early this year.

“It’s a good feeling winning two straight, this is for my countrymen,” said Alcantara in Filipino.

Alcantara also gained a whopping 40 ITF points and should improve his current rankings of 56th in the world before the year ends.

Also, the Filipino teen wonder should get enough momentum from this pair of mighty triumphs when he plunges into action again in the Australian Juniors Open in January next year.

On his way to the finals, Alcantara dumped Japanese Kaichi Uchida, 7-5, 6-0, in a duel decided only in the first set where the former took the final two games to pave the way for a surprisingly easy second set victory.

In girls’ action, Chinese fourth seed Tian Ran bounced back from a second set meltdown with a steady third set effort in upending compatriot top seed Zhu Lin in a gripping 6-0, 2-6, 6-4 win to cop the crown.

Like Alcantara, Tian, who pulled the rug from under second pick Yuki Ito of Japan, 6-2, 6-2, to reach it this far, capped two weeks of topnotch tennis by sweeping the two legs and should climb up the world ladder from 280th place.

Earlier, Tian and Zhu teamed up in edging Japanese Mami Adachi and Yuki Ito in a marathon 6-3, 3-6 (10-3) to rule the women’s doubles.– Joey Villar