Alcantara, pal rip Austrians, gain q'final

MANILA, Philippines - Francis Casey Alcantara and John Morrissey of Ireland stayed in the title hunt in the doubles competition of the 51st Trofeo Bonfiglio as they bundled out Sebastian Stiefelmeyer and Dominic Thiem of Austria, 6-3, 7-6 (5), at the Tennis Club Milano Bonacossa in Milan, Italy Wednesday.

The 18-year-old Alcantara, in his first tournament since winning the doubles crown of the Mitsubishi Lancer International Juniors Championship last March in Manila, and Morrissey thus moved into the quarterfinal round against the Italian pair of Marco Cecchinato and Giammarco Micolani.

Cecchinato and Micolani foiled Filipino Jeson Patrombon and Richard Gabb of Great Britain, 6-1, 7-6 (4), in the second round, averting a quarterfinal showdown between Patrombon and Alcantara in the doubles event.

The 17-year-old Patrombon bowed out of the tournament after an impressive start in the singles but not before forcing the Italian duo to a tiebreaker in the second set.

Patrombon and Gabb got through to the second round after stunning Guilherme Clezar of Brazil and Yasutaka Uchiyama of Japan, 6-3, 2-6, 10-7, in the Grade A tournament.

Earlier, Patrombon lost to fellow unseeded Vitor Galvao of Brazil, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2, in the second round of the singles.

In the first round, Patrombon, priming up for the French Open next month, stunned third-ranked Kevin Krawietz of Germany, 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (5).