Second title in two weeks for Alcantara

National team stalwart Francis Casey Alcantara is reaping the success in his doubles career, thanks to a recent strategy of playing more singles matches.

The 29-year-old Alcantara, the Australian Open juniors doubles champion in 2009, partnered with Great Britain’s Mark Whitehouse to capture the International Tennis Federation 25,000 in Harlingen, Texas, over the weekend.

It was his second title in two weeks after ruling a similar level tournament in Calabasas, California, in tandem with Fil-American Raymond Sarmiento.

“Actually, playing singles helped me a lot with my game right now,” Alcantara told the Inquirer. “So I guess I’m going to continue playing more singles because it helped my doubles game a bit.”

Title spell over

The Cagayan de Oro native, who has been campaigning in the United States, saw action in singles in Harlingen but ran into fourth seed Christian Langmo of the United States in the opening round to lose 6-1, 6-1.But his fortunes contrasted in doubles after he hit it off with Whitehouse, besting in the final Gabi Adrian Boitan of Romania and Constantin Frantzen of Germany, 7-6 (3), 5-7, (10-7).

“It’s been a while. But it feels good to be back,” said Alcantara who, prior to his Calabasas triumph, last tasted a championship back in 2018.

He said he is focusing now more on physical conditioning as he prepares to plunge into the tour.

He and Whitehouse are competing in another tournament in Texas, before he heads to Doha for a three-week competition swing. INQ