Fil-American netter Ruben Gonzales and partner Darian King of Barbados survived their rivals’ persistent plays to capture the Abierto Internacional Varonil Pachuca doubles title in Pachuca, Mexico over the weekend.

Gonzales and King, seeded third in the $10,000 International Tennis Federation (ITF) Futures tournament, overcame a slow start and kept their composure in the deciding frame to outplay Colombia’s Jose Daniel Bendeck and Mexico’s Alejandro Moreno Figueroa, 6-7 (2), 7-6 (3), 10-4.

It was Gonzales and King’s first title this year in also their first pairing.

Gonzales came close to his first doubles crown last month with American partner Sekou Bangoura at the Bakersfield Tennis Open in California, a $25,000 Futures tournament, but lost in the finals.

Gonzales and King only dropped two sets all throughout the tournament, beating British duo Luke Bambridge and Farris Gosea, 7-6 (6), 7-6 (8); Bolivian tandem Alejandro Mendoza and Federico Zeballos, 4-6, 6-3, 10-2; and Chile’s Marcelo Barrios Vera and Canada’s Alejandro Tabilo, 6-4, 6-3.

The 30-year-old veteran member of the Philippine tennis team is expected to improve his current doubles ranking of No. 529.

Meantime, defending champion Cenon Gonzales Jr. and Charito Jade Capadocia bested their respective rivals in the 18-and-under age category over the weekend to top the 15th Toby’s-Wilson Summer Tennis Festival at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

Gonzales Jr. whipped Emmanuel Fuellas, 6-0, 6-2, while Capadocia blanked Bettina Bautista, 6-7 (3), 6-3, 6-4.

Source: sports.tempo.com.ph