MANILA, Philippines – Masusukat ang galing ng mga Filipino tennis players laban sa mga world-class netters sa paghataw ng ATP Challenger Philippine Open main draw ngayon sa pinagandang Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.
Dadalhin nina wildcards Jeson Patrombon, Francis Casey Alcantara, Ruben Gonzales at sixteen-year-old Alberto Lim Jr. ang bandila ng bansa sa $75,000 tournament na ito.
“I will play my usual game, and look at it as preparation for other tournaments like the Australian Open (juniors),” ani Lim, ang pambatong tennis player ng bansa na ranked No. 12 sa buong mundo sa juniors na haharap kay world No. 175 David Guez ng France sa first round.
“My mindset is to try and win every point, every set and every match then if I win I move on to the next match,” sabi naman ng Iligan-native na si Patrombon na haharap naman kay fifth-seed at world No. 127th Kimmer Coppejans ng Belgium.
Sasabak naman ang 30-gulang na si Gonzales, ve-teran Davis Cup player at bahagi ng national team kay seventh-seed Sijsling Igor ng Netherlands na kakapanalo lang sa isang Challenger meet sa Brescia, Italy.
Haharapin naman ng 23-gulang na si Alcantara, dating Australian Open juniors doubles champion, si Amir Weintraub ng Israel, world No. 207.