Jeson cuts tall Korean down to size

MANILA, Philippines - Jeson Patrombon hacked out his biggest triumph as a pro, outlasting 6-foot-5 Korean Jun Woong-Sun in three grueling sets, 4-6, 7-5, 7-6(5), in the first round of the Thailand F4 Futures in Phuket, Thailand last Monday.

Qualifier Patrombon held his own against the big-serving and big-hitting Korean, a semifinalist in the previous week’s Laos Men’s Futures, en route to a Last-16 berth against No. 4 Laurent Rochete of France.

The SEAG-bound Filipino netter trailed at 3-5 in the tiebreaker of the third set but fought back to win the next four points and essay the come-from-behind victory. 

Patrombon broke Jun’s serve following a big return and huge rally to close in at 4-5, then held on his two serves to reach match point at 6-5. The Phl ace then got the better of a hitting rally with Jun serving, unloading a well-time volley to close out the match.

“Jeson’s win was his first big win since turning pro this year in the ITF Men’s Circuit,” coach Manny Tecson said after the three-hour match. “(This) earned him his 7th ATP point of the year which will improve his world ranking.”

Filipino-Italian Marc Reyes struggled before marching into the second round at the expense of Thai qualifier Pruchya Isarow, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2. He picked up his second ATP point in the process.

After a tight and tentative start that saw him yield the first set, Reyes regained his rhythm from middle of the second set onwards to steal the win and advance. He awaits the winner of the first-round match between No.7 Arata Onozawa of Japan and Rohan Gajjar of India.

The third Filipino in the US$10,000 netfest, Hawaii-based Dennis Lajola, withdrew from the competition due to a back injury he suffered in the Laos Futures, according to Tecson.