Mixed success for Vincy players in ITF junior tournament

Tue Aug 20, 2013

Over the weekend, matches in the Boys and Girls Under-14 Singles matches of the International Tennis Federation junior tournament, played at the Grassroots Tennis Courts at Murray Road, were packed with action, errors, and never-say-die attitudes.{{more}}

The Vincentian players enjoyed mixed success in the Under-14s matches, losing some and winning some.

Jean-Phillippe Murray of Saint Lucia defeated Miguel Francis of St Vincent and the Grenadines 4-0 4-0; Alexander Cyrus of St Vincent and the Grenadines defeated Danyel Angus of Trinidad and Tobago 4-2 4-0, and Cordell Williams jr of Antigua and Barbuda stopped Richard Hoyte of St Vincent and the Grenadines 4-0 4-0,

Gabrielle Benn of St Vincent and the Grenadines defeated Shania Williams of St Vincent and the Grenadines 4-1 4-0; Alexi Humphrey of St Vincent and the Grenadines defeated Ramona Tomlinson of Antigua and Barbuda 4-0 4-0; Armalia Benn of St. Vincent and the Grenadines defeated Kalyca Fraser of Guyana 4-1 4-0; Kamara Williams of St Vincent and the Grenadines defeated Jamaali Homer of Guyana 4-2 5-4 (7); and Keenan Persaud of Guyana defeated Miguel Francis of St Vincent and the Grenadines 4-1 4-1.

Ukpioronfo Ikolo of Grenada kept his hopes of making it to the knock-out phase of the Under-14s Singles, with a 4-0 4-0 clinical dispatch of Alexander Cyrus of St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Mark McDonald of Guyana got past Richard Hoyte of St Vincent and the Grenadines 4-0 4-1.

Meanwhile the females had their moments of excitement as Gabrielle Benn of St Vincent and the Grenadines struggled but got past the temperamental Afruica Gentle of Guyana 4-2 1-4 4-1.

In other Girls Under-14s matches, Shania Williams of St Vincent and the Grenadines defeated Jonelle Anderson of Antigua and Barbuda 4-0 4-1, and Amarlia Benn of St Vincent and the Grenadines defeated Candace Cook of  Trinidad and Tobago 5-3 4-1.

A brief shower brought a temporary halt to Sunday’s proceedings late in the afternoon, but as soon as the courts were dried and the tournament referee Anthony Jameson gave the go ahead, it was back to the action.

Anya King of Trinidad and Tobago took three sets to defeat Anastasia White of St Vincent and the Grenadines 1-4 4-2 5-3, it being the last match to finish off the day’s action.

But Alexi Humphrey of St Vincent and the Grenadines kept her hope alive, although taking three sets to see off Jamaali Homer of Guyana, winning 4-0 4-5 (1) 5-4; and Kamara Williams of St Vincent and the Grenadines defeating Ramona Tomlinson of Antigua and Barbuda 4-0 4-1.

On Sunday afternoon, there was a rush in the closing minutes as players who had arrived on the island just minutes earlier due to LIAT’s scheduling and rescheduling, were able to reach the registration desk and get their particulars sorted out.

(Robertson S. Henry/robertsons.henry@gmail.com)