Alcantara, partner yield in finals of ATP Challenger in China
At A Glance
- The Association of Tennis Profesionals (ATP) title remains elusive for Francis Casey Alcantara as he and Thai partner Pruchya Isaro bowed to Japan’s Kaichi Uchida and Takeru Yuzuki, 6-1, 7-5, in the finals of the Zhangjiagang International Challenger in China Saturday, Aug. 31.
The Association of Tennis Profesionals (ATP) title remains elusive for Francis Casey Alcantara as he and Thai partner Pruchya Isaro bowed to Japan’s Kaichi Uchida and Takeru Yuzuki, 6-1, 7-5, in the finals of the Zhangjiagang International Challenger in China Saturday, Aug. 31.
Coming from a stellar performance in their previous battles, the Filipino-Thai pair couldn’t ride their victorious ways as the Japanese seized a 5-0 lead in the first set before keeping their composure in the second to rule the event.
“Seventh ATP Challenger runner-up. Still on the hunt for my first title, but it was another positive week for me and my partner. Thanks for grinding it out with me this week,” Alcantara wrote on social media moments after their defeat.
Alcantara and Isaro, however, didn’t just give the victory into a silver platter as they fought back in the second frame with a 4-3 lead.
But the Japanese duo was a tough nut to crack, keeping the match close and even tying it at 5-all, before dominating the next two games.
Before settling for bridesmaid honor, Alcantara and Isaro routed Chinese Taipei’s Yu Hsiou and China’s Sun Fajing in the semifinals, 6-4, 6-3; Australians Ajeet Rai and Finn Reynolds in the quarters, 6-3, 6-7 (7), 10-6; and Japanese pair Rio Noguchi and Seita Watanabe in the first round, 4-6, 7-6 (4), 10-7.