UP-AND-COMING Arthur Craig Pantino pulled off a 6-3, 6-3 win over Indian rival Srivatsa Ratakonda of India in the first round of the International Tennis Federation Grade 2 Junior Tennis Championships in New Delhi.
The 17-year-old Pantino, a student of the Philippine Tennis Academy, advanced to the second round and will clash with top seeded Uising Park of Korea.
Last week, he bowed to Roko Savin, 6-2, 6-4, in the second round of a Grade 1 tournament in New Delhi.
He reached the first round after a 6-3, 6-3 triumph over Nathaniel Golmer.
Meanwhile, the pair of Filipino Treat Huey and Belarusian Max Mirnyi are among the seeded pairs when the Australian Open doubles’ competitions start on Jan. 16 at the Melbourne Park in Australia.
They are ranked 10th in the acceptance list released by the Association of Tennis Professionals World Tour on Tuesday.
Mirnyi is at No. 21 in the doubles’ world ranking, while Huey holds the 22nd spot.
Huey and Mirnyi are in the company of top seeds and 2015 finalists Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut of France, defending champions Jamie Murray of Great Britain and Bruno Soares of Brazil, and six-time winners Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan of the United States.
On the other hand, 17-year old Alberto “AJ” Lim Jr. is set to see action in the junior division.
The world no. 52 Lim just finished his practice sessions and will be there with Huey as they prepare for their coming Davis Cup competition in the first week of February.
