Eala, Pantino take crack at US Open main JR draw

The Philippines’ top junior tennis players Alex Eala and Arthur Craig Pantino are bracing for a tough weekend as they begin their US Open qualifying campaigns in New York.

Eala, who at 14 is the Philippines’ brightest hope, will take on American Kimmi Nance, a 16-year-old who already has a pro ranking of 1094, in the first round.

Pantino, 17, will face Milan Welte of Germany in the opening round. Welte is ranked 1242 in men’s circuit.

They need to win their two qualifying matches on Friday and Saturday to make the main draw, which will begin on Sunday.

It is the first time in recent years that the Philippines is represented in both boys and girls divisions of a Grand Slam event.

The last time a Filipino made the US Open junior main draw was when Jeson Patrombon swept the qualifying in 2011. The Philippines’ last successful campaign in a Grand Slam was when Francis Casey Alcantara and Taiwanese partner Hsieh Cheng-peng ruled the 2009 Australian Open. —MARC ANTHONY REYES