Jeson Patrombon, ranked world No. 50 junior and unseeded in the Trofeo Bonfiglio Italian Open in Milan, Italy, stunned third pick Kevin Krawietz of Germany, 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (5), in a marathon match that lasted four and a half hours.

Jeson Patrombon pulled off the day’s biggest upset but Francis Casey Alcantara suffered a shock defeat in the opening round of the Trofeo Bonfiglio Italian Open in Milan, Italy, a warm up event the two are taking before the French Open.

Patrombon, ranked world No. 50 junior and unseeded here, stunned third pick Kevin Krawietz of Germany, 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (5), in a marathon match that lasted four and a half hours.

Alcantara, however, was not as gritty and lost a three-setter, 5-7, 6-3, 6-1, to Alexis Carlos of Mexico.

It was sweet win for Patrombon as he exacted revenge on the Mexican, ranked No. 8 junior by the International Tennis Federation who beat the Filipino in the Lo Yang Traralgon International in Melbourne last January.

It was also redemption of sorts for Patrombon who was dumped in the first round in another tournament in Italy last week.

That fate has befallen Alcantara whose campaign this season has been characterized by ebbs and flows.

Patrombon’s win arranged a second-round date against Vitor Galvao of Brazil, who cruised to a 6-2, 6-2 win over lucky loser Pedro Verdugo of Chile.

“The night before, I told Jeson to prepare for a long match,” Patrombon’s
coach Manny Tecson said.

It was Patrombon’s first time to advance to the second round in a Grade A tournament, which is rated just a notch below grand slams.

The Iligan City native has never met Galvao before, but the 16-year-old Rio de Janeiro native has been playing consistently in clay court tournaments since January.