Jeson Patrombon gains quarterfinals

Jeson Patrombon crushed hometown bet Warit Sornbutnark, 6-0, 6-4, to gain a first-ever quarterfinal slot in the men’s circuit Wednesday in the Thailand Men’s Futures in Phuket.

Patrombon, who recently broke into the men’s top 1,000 rankings, will face in the next round third seed Laurent Rochete of France, who routed Kevin Jordi of Switzerland, 6-1, 6-2.

It’s going to be an uphill battle, though, for the 18-year-old Patrombon as he has lost both his previous encounters with the French.

Patrombon, who will join the national team to the Southeast Asian Games after the event, made the second round by beating another Thai Grittaboon Prahmanee (6-2, 6-1).

Fil-Italian Marc Reyes was eliminated in the first round after a 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 loss to Thai Wishaya Trongcharoenchaikul.