Alcantara reaches career-high doubles ranking
Francis Casey Alcantara continued his hot streak with a third straight ITF Futures men’s doubles title Friday alongside Thai partner Sonchat Ratiwatana in Hua Hin, Thailand.
Alcantara and Ratiwatana bested Ajeet Rai of New Zealand and Karunuday Singh of India, 6-1, 1-6, (10-6), in the final match of the Thailand Futures 6 at True Arena hardcourts.
“I feel overwhelmed, it was a big win over very tough opponents,” said Alcantara referring to Rai and Singh, who was his partner when he won the Futures 4 two weeks ago.
The Filipino world No. 319—a career-high—also won the week before with partner Shintaro Imai of Japan in Thailand Futures 5.
“I really feel great coming here and hopefully, I can sustain it and gain more points to get me to the ATP tournaments the soonest possible time,” added the 26-year-old Alcantara, who hails from Cagayan de Oro.
It was his 11th title since turning pro in 2015. To date, he has five championships this year with different partners.
After getting dragged to a super tiebreak, Alcantara and his partner, who is a winner of seven Southeast Asian Games gold medals and a regular Grand Slam campaigner, stormed to a 4-2 lead.
The opponents tried to keep the match close, breaking in the 12th game for 7-5, before Alcantara and Ratiwatana held and broke in the next two games to gain a 9-6 edge.
“They don’t give up easily, but we tried to stay in the match even after losing the second set and having them close in on the super tiebreak,” added Alcantara.
Playing as top seeds, they reached the final after a 2-6, 6-0, (10-4) victory over Russians Shalva Dzhanashia and Alexander Igoshin.
They also trounced Japanese Daisuke Sumizawa and Shunrou Takeshima (6-2, 6-3) in the quarterfinals after a 6-3, 6-3 win over Thais Yuttana Charoenphon and Worovin Kumthonkittikul in the first round.
