FRANCIS Casey Alcantara’s quest to barge into the top 100 next year continues to reap a good result.
This, after his tandem with Markus Ericksson of Sweden produced a first title together in the ITF Futures 5 doubles tourney in Tay Ninh, Vietnam on Saturday night.
For his 12th doubles crown overall, the 26-year-old Alcantara played alongside Ericksson in a scary start, yielding the first set, 5-7 before getting back at Nam Hoang Ly of Vietnam and Roman Safiullin of Russia, 6-4, (10-7) in the back-breaking three-setter final that lasted one hour and 36 minutes.
“Thank you partner for playing with me last week and this week,” the Cagayan de Oro ace Alcantara said in acknowledging his Swede partner, Ericksson.
Wilson Sports PH was also quick on the trigger, posting right away on social media: “We would like to Congratulate our Wilson Brand Ambassador Francis Casey Alcantara for bringing home another pride.”
The 313th-ranked Alcantara, who aspires to compete in the ATP Tour next year, also completed a three-peat performance in Thailand early this month.
Teaming up with the veteran Thai stalwart Sonchat Ratiwatana, they overcame the pair of Kurunuday Singh of India and Ajeet Rai of New Zealand in a three-set thriller to win the US$ 15,000 F6 Thailand Futures doubles tournament, some weeks ago, at the True Arena Hua Hin in Thailand.
Alcantara paired with Kurunuday first in the F4 Futures in the last week of September and Japan’s Shintaro Imai in winning the F5 doubles crown.