Cramps-stricken Alcantara yields to Chinese

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines’ Francis Casey Alcantara blew a pair of match points in the second set and then succumbed to cramps in the decider to drop a heartbreaking 6-4, 5-7, 1-6 decision to Wang Chuhan of China in the 21st Mitsubishi ITF Junior Championships at the Rizal Tennis Center yesterday.

Late in the day, Fil-Am Raymond Sarmiento, likewise bowed out after he absorbed a 3-6, 6-1, 5-7, setback to qualifier Timur Neymatov of Russia as the host nation reeled with a shutout in the singles event.

The fourth-seeded, 18-year-old Alcantara took the first set by seizing the last two games, zoomed to a 5-2 lead in the second only to squander a pair of match points in the eighth and 10th games that allowed the 14th seeded Wang to snatch the set and forged a decider.

Exhausted as well as disheartened, the Malaybalay, Bukidnon-based Alcantara staggered cramps-stricken in the deciding set, allowing the Chinese to escape with the win.

A dejected Alcantara later begged off from media interview in this tournament backed by ACCEL, Century Park Hotel, ITF Juniors Circuit, Dunlop Sports and Gatorade.

Marian Jade Capadocia, the last Filipina standing, couldn’t sustain the form she displayed in taming fancied Manisha Foster of Great Britain, 6-4, 6-1, and No. 12 Ekaterina Nikitina of Russia, 3-6, 7-5, 6-2, in the earlier rounds and lost to No. 7 Luksiika Kumkhum of Thailand, 1-6, 7-5, 0-6.

After roaring to a 5-2 lead in the second, Alcantara, who smashed Ariez Elyaas Hesham of Malaysia, 6-4, 6-0, going into this round, posted a 40-30 count in the eighth game as he zeroed in for a quarterfinal berth.

But Wang, who made it to the round after dumping American Campbell Johnson, 6-3, 6-0, fired an ace to force deuce then staved off ouster with a pair of winners.

After he was broken in ninth, the Filipino ace turned a 30-40 deficit in the 10th to his second match point but Wang managed to come through again to force a five-all tie.

It was an all Wang show in the third set as cramps slowed down Alcantara the rest of the way.

The Filipino ace’s loss was one of the upsets that rocked the third round as top seed Mate Zsiga of Hungary and No. 6 Darian Blomgren were all shown the door. Zsiga was booted out by No. 14 Dane Webb, 4-6, 1-6, while Blomgren fell to No. 10 Tobias Blomgren of Sweden, 5-7, 2-6.