Patrombon advances in Aussie international tennis

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines’ top junior netter Jeson Patrombon shook off rust to post a 6-4, 7-5 win over Japan’s Ryota Kishi at the start of the Loy Yang Traralgon International 2011 netfest in rain-hit Traralgon, Australia.

Playing his first match since undergoing foot surgery last month and his pre-tourney practice sessions hampered by Australia’s severe weather, the eighth-seeded Patrombon jumped the gun on Kishi, 3-0, and proved steadier as the Japanese turned up the heat and caught up at 3-3.

The pride of Iligan City retook the lead at 5-4 and playing more aggressively especially on his returns, managed to break Kishi in the next game to seize the first set.

After fighting to a 4-4 standoff in the second set, 6’0 Kishi pounced on Patrombon’s two double faults to break the Filipino ace and move a game away from forcing a deciding third.

But Kishi, feeling the pressure, committed two double faults, which the 17-year-old Patrombon immediately took advantage of to make it 5-5. The Phl netter held serve in the succeeding game and then, anticipating the wide serves of Kishi, came up with big returns combined with aggressive groundstrokes in the next to clinch the match.

The world No. 12 Patrombon, however, failed to advance in the doubles division as he and partner Jaden Grinter of New Zealand bowed to the Czech pair of Adam Pavlazek and Lukas Vrnak, 2-6, 1-6, in the first round.

“I still need to keep working on Jeson’s game to get his form back 100 percent,” said coach Manny Tecson. “This is his first tournament after his foot injury and his first singles and doubles matches. There is still some rustiness, but I am happy with his singles performance today. It was a long and tough match, which Jeson needs to get his mental and physical game going.”

Patrombon, using this tournament as a warmup to the Australian Juniors Open, will meet Yaraslau Shyra of Belarus, 6-4, 7-5 winner over American Mac Styslinger, in the second round.