Struggling pro tour stints for Huey, Gonzales
By Marc Anthony ReyesPhilippine Daily Inquirer
FRESH from a triumphant stint in a recent Davis Cup first round tie, United States-based Filipino netters Treat Huey and Ruben Gonzales encountered rough sailing in their return to the pro tour recently.
Huey, the backbone of the Cebuana Lhuillier-Philippine team, slipped two rungs lower in the world rankings in doubles from 35th to 37th after early exits in two tournaments in Europe.
Gonzales, who scored an opening singles win and teamed up with Huey in a doubles victory as the Filipinos downed the Syrians (3-2), fell in the first round of the Mexico F4 Futures in Tehuacan. He and Chris Letcher of Australia lost to Jan Blecha of Czech Republic and Keith Patrick Crowley of South Africa 7-6 (7-1), 6-2.
The 27-year-old Gonzales, who is seeing action in USA F5 Futures in Brownsville, Texas, is ranked 830th in the world in singles and 325 in doubles.
Huey and Gonzales are expected to compete for the country in the doubles of bigger international tournaments like next year’s Asian Games and possibly the 2016 Olympics. However, tennis is in danger of getting excluded in the coming Southeast Asian Games in Myanmar.
Huey and partner Dominic Inglot of Britain yielded in the first round to Jerzy Janowicz of Poland and Jarkko Nieminen of Finland, 6-4, 7-5, in the recent ABN Amro World tennis tournaments in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
The debacle came just a week after the pair lost to Jamie Murray of Australia and Nieminen, 6-2, 6-2, in the second round of the Open de Sud France in Montpellier. Huey and Inglot beat Thai twins Sanchai and Sonchat Raitwatana in the first round, 6-3, 6-3.
If its any consolation, Huey got a preview of the what to expect from the Thais, whom they will play in the semifinal round of the Davis Cup Asia Oceania Group 2 to be played in Lapu-Lapu City on April 5 to 7.
Follow Us
Recent Stories:
