Gonzales, Aussie pal reach USA F6 doubles final

MANILA, Philippines - Fil-Am Ruben Gonzales and his Australian partner Chris Letcher upstaged top seed Philip Bester of Canada and Devin Britton of the USA, 7-5, 1-6 (10-7), to reach the doubles finals of the USA F6 Futures tournament in Harlingen, Texas.

Davis Cupper Gonzales and Letcher bounced back from a lackadaisical second set with a solid performance in the super tiebreak to hurdle past their semis rivals and vaulted into the title duel with American Kevin King and South African Dean O’Brien.

King and O’Brien dispatched American pair Jason Jung and Nicolas Meister, 7-6(8), 6-0, in the other side of the semifinals to advance.

On their way to the finals, Gonzales and Letcher turned back Connor Farren of the US and Yoshihito Nishioka of Japan, 6-4, 6-0, and British tandem Daniel Cox and Joshua Milton, 6-4, 6-1.

The 27-year-old Gonzales and Letcher are hoping to make it all the way to the diadem after falling short in the championship round of the USA F5 the previous week over in Brownsville, Texas. The duo were beaten to the Brownsville title by Americans Jean-Yves Aubone and Dennis Nevolo, 6-3 6-7(7), [10-6].