Patrombon cruises to quarterfinal

MANILA, Philippines - Jeson Patrombon overpowered Chinese Taipei’s Chuang Ting Yu, 6-3, 6-0, to advance to the quarterfinals of the Seogwipo Asia/Oceana Closed Championships in Jeju-do, South Korea Thursday.

The second-seeded Patrombon sized up Chuang in the opening set, winning their long rallies then stamped his class in the next to complete the rout. He faces 11th seed Kim Jae Hwan of South Korea for a berth in the semis.

Hwan also fashioned out an emphatic 6-2, 6-1 victory over compatriot Kim Ho Gak, 6-2, 6-1.

Patrombon actually scored twin victories in the day as he also teamed up with New Zealand’s Jaden Grinter in beating Koreans Kim Yun and Kim Ho Gak, 6-3, 6-2, in the doubles event.

The third ranked Patrombon and Grinter set up a duel with the unfancied tandem Cao Zhaoyi and Liu Xing Bang of China, who surprised sixth seed Chung Hong and Maeng Joo Ho of South Korea, 6-7(4), 6-3, 10-3.

“It was a tight match even though the score was lopsided because there were really long rallies in almost every game,” said Patrombon’s coach and trainer Manny Tecson through an email message.

Patrombon took a 4-3 lead after surviving 12 deuces then controlled the next two games to clinch the opening set.

Chuang actually battled Patrombom to 20 deuces but failed to snatch even a single game in the second set.

Meanwhile, Anna Clarice Patrimonio and Chinese Zhu Ai dropped a 3-6, 0-6 setback to Japan’s Miho Kowase and Risa Ozaki in the second round of the ladies doubles.