MANILA -- Filipino-American Ruben Gonzales made it to the men's doubles semifinal round of the TEAN International in Alphen, Netherlands, which ended Sunday (Monday in Manila).
According to the International Tennis Federation (ITF) website, the fourth-ranked pair of Gonzales and American Hunter Weese lost to Dutch pair Botic Van de Zandschulp and Boy Westerhof, 3-6, 6-2 [4-10], in the semifinals of the tournament that offered a total cash prize of 43,000 euros.
The unseeded tandem of Zandschulp and Westerhof eventually won the tournament after beating Bulgarian Aleksander Lazov and Ukrainian Volodymyr Uzhylovskyi in the finals, 7-6 (6), 7-5.
Lazov and Uzhylovskyi won over top seeds Kevin Krawietz and Alexander Satschko of Germany via walkover in the semifinals to advance to the championship round.
The Alphen Challenger was the Filipino's first tournament after the Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) held in Malaysia two weeks ago.
Before the SEAG, Gonzales has competed in 19 tournaments, including 12 ATP Challengers, since January.
In March, Gonzales and Dutch Sem Verbeek won the doubles title in the USD15,000 Bahrain F2 Futures, beating German Florian Fallert and Belgian Jonas Merckx, 6-3, 6-0, in the finals.
Gonzales also reached the final round of the ITF Futures in Pachuca, Mexico with South African Nicolaas Scholtz last May. They lost to Mexican Manuel Sanchez and Bolivian Federico Zeballos, 6-7 (3), 2-6.
Gonzales, who was born in Terre Haute, Indiana, is currently the world's No. 248 doubles players. His best ranking was No. 152 in 2014.
The Filipino Davis cupper has won 19 doubles titles since he joined the pro circuit in 2009. (PNA)
