Despite two failed doubles bids in the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Challenger Tour, Ruben Gonzales reached a career-best world ranking of 135th after 31 matches so far. Ranked 193rd at the end of 2017, the 32-year-old Filipino-American and partner Nathaniel Lammons of the United States bowed to the Polish tandem of Mateusz Kowalczyk and Szymon Walkow, 6-7(6), 3-6, in the finals of a $75,000 tournament in Sopot, Poland, on July 30. Two weeks ago, Gonzales and Lammons reached the quarterfinals of another ATP Challenger event in Portoroz, Slovenia. “Ruben has been making great strides and I am confident he will enter the top 100 this year,” said Cebuana Lhuillier president Jean Henri Lhuillier, also the head of Unified Tennis Philippines.
Jobim sets sights on OOM, ICTSI Iloilo golf crowns
Jobim Carlos hopes to come out stronger from a playoff setback to veteran Juvic Pagunsan as he shoots for another crown and tries to zero in on the Order of Merit title in the ICTSI Iloilo Golf Challenge beginning Wednesday in Santa Barbara town. Carlos, who scored a breakthrough at Philippine Golf Tour Asia Riviera leg in June, nearly upended the fancied Pagunsan in Saturday’s ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic finale. “Juvic hits consistent short game shots and that’s I think what I should do,” said Carlos when asked what aspect of the former Asian Tour No. 1’s game had impressed him most during their encounter. Also out to foil Carlos’ bid are PGT Asia leg winners Jhonnel Ababa and Jay Bayron and Bacolod leg champion Justin Quiban.