Patrombon closes in on ATP top 1,000 rankings

MANILA, Philippines - Young Jeson Patrombon, the Philippines’ top junior netter, is expected to breach the top 1,000 of ATP men’s world rankings for the first time since turning pro last April.

Ranked 1,055th in the Oct. 31 list, Patrombon is likely to climb to 985th by next week after reaching the second round of the Thailand F4 Futures in Phuket, Thailand, according to his coach Manny Tecson.

“It has been a great year so far for us. Jeson is not even playing full-time yet in the pros since we still competed half of our tournaments in the junior level this year and yet he is ranked in the top 900 in the pros,” Tecson said in an email.

Still eligible until the end of year to compete in the juniors, where he ranked as high as ninth, the 18-year-old Patrombon took part in the Wimbledon juniors (round of 32) and US Open juniors (round of 64) in-between his men’s gigs.

The Southeast Asian Games-bound Patrombon enjoyed his best performances in the men’s tour in the recent Laos F1 Futures, reaching the second round in singles and semifinals in doubles.

“Jeson is gaining so much experience playing the pros and his game is maturing. Jeson is still young and he has so much to learn but I believe by next year he will have his big breakthrough win,” Tecson said.

Patrombon will compete starting today in the Thailand F5 meet also in Phuket, where he’s seeded into the main draw.

After this, the pride of Iligan will join Cecil Mamiit, Treat Huey and Johnny Arcilla in their quest for gold in the SEA Games.