...the new net hero

Patrombon barges into Top 10 of ITF rankings

 

GMAnews.tv

02/01/2011

 

Jeson Patrombon
Courtesy of Jeson's Facebook page

Jeson Patrombon's successful stint in the Australian Open Juniors Championship singles event, where he reached the quarterfinals, earned him additional points in the International Tennis Federation (ITF) world junior rankings.

Patrombon jumped from 12th at the start of the year to ninth, based on the latest ITF rankings (January 31).

Aside from that Last 8 finish in the singles of his first Grand Slam event, the 17-year-old Patrombon also reached the boys' doubles second round with teammate Jaden Grinter of New Zealand, where they suffered a 6-3, 7-5 loss to Ben Wagland and Andrew Whittington of Australia.

The ITF awards points to a player based on each finish in a tournament.

Patrombon earned 580 points (520 in the singles and 60 in the doubles) in the Aussie Open Juniors. He becomes the third Filipino junior player that has reached the Top 10 world rankings, after Manny Tolentino and Felix Barrientos in the '80s.

Before Patrombon, Francis Casey Alcantara also made waves in the junior circuit when he placed 14th in the 2009 ITF rankings.

"We're achieving the goals that we have set at the start of the year," said coach Manny Tecson. "Now we have gained a lot of respect from our top rivals. Who knows what can happen in the last three remaining Grand Slams this year?"

Patrombon had another surgery after Tecson found out that a small portion of the wart that was operated on last year was still imbedded in the junior netter's left foot.

Patrombon returns to the ITF tour on March 7, starting with the ITF/LTAT Championships in Thailand. Following that will be the 17th Sarawak Chief Minister's Cup from March 15 to 20.

Patrombon returns to the country to see action in the Mitsubishi Lancer International Tennis Championships from March 22 to 27 at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center. He will then make his pro debut in the Men's Futures in India in April.

"We will be dividing our schedule of tournaments to 60 percent juniors and 40 percent men's tournaments. This year will be a gradual transition for Jeson in the Pros, because he still needs to grow and improve his mental, physical and tactical game in tennis," said Tecson. – JVP, KY, RCJ, GMANews.TV