Francis Casey Alcantara and Sun Fajing failed to sustain their form from the previous leg after crashing out early in the Bangkok Open 3 Challenger in Nonthaburi, Thailand on Tuesday, Jan. 16.

The unseeded Filipino-Chinese pair tried to recover from a slow start but stumbled in the pivotal third set to yield to wildcard bets Pruchya Isaro and Maximus Jones of Thailand, 6-4, 4-6, 10-7, in the opening round of the $80,000 Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) event.

It was a redemption of sorts for Isaro and Jones, who bowed to Alcantara and his previous Japanese partner Kaichi Uchida, 6-4, 7-6 (7), in the semifinals of the first leg of the tournament.

But Alcantara and Sun’s partnership didn’t work this time, particularly in the deciding third set where the Thai duo unlocked themselves from a 3-all tie with three straight points for a 6-3 edge that set the tone for the rest of the match.

Meanwhile, Isaro and Jones’ victory set up a meeting with the winner between fourth seeds Toshihide Matsui and Kaito Uesugi of Japan, and Mexico’s Han Hach Verdugo and South Korea’s Nam Jisung.

Alcantara currently enjoys his highest career ranking to date in the ATP doubles at No. 176 following his runner-up finish with Sun in the second leg of the event.

Sun, meanwhile, is at No. 184.