Jeson smothers Indian in opener

MANILA, Philippines - Second seed Jeson Patrombon lived up to his billing as he turned back Indian Rishabdev Raman, 6-4, 6-3, at the start of the Seogwipo Asia-Oceania Closed Championships in Jeju-do, South Korea Wednesday.

The 17-year-old Patrombon, ranked No. 34 in the world juniors, played just good enough to outlast his Indian foe and arrange a second round showdown with Korean Hogi Kang.

Kang, ranked way behind Patrombon at No. 540 in the world, trounced Uzbek Shukhrat Gizatulin, 6-0, 6-1, in one of the most lopsided victories posted in the day.

But while Patrombon gained, compatriot Anna Clarice Patrimonio absorbed a 1-6, 4-6 setback from No. 16 Kanami Tsuj of Japan and crashed out in the women’s division.

Meanwhile, Patrimonio, coming off a solid runner-up finish to Tamitha Nguyen in a Vietnam event two weeks ago, guns for her second doubles crown as she teams up with China’s Zhu Ai against Korea’s Jeong Yeong Won and Kim Da Hye.