National Singles Tennis titles decided

Afi Lucas won the Under-12, Amarlia Benn – the Women’s Open and Taj Ballantyne, the Men’s Open in the National Singles Tennis Tournament, which ended last Saturday at the National Tennis Centre at Villa.

Lucas finished with four wins out of his four matches, winning 32 games and losing 6. Lucas therefore had a 84.2 per cent average.

In the women’s bracket, Amarlia Benn was triumphant in her seven matches. She won a total of 86 games, lost 26, finishing with a 76.8 per cent average.

Amarlia and her twin sister Gabrielle squared off in last Saturday’s final. Amarlia battled to 3-6, 7-6 and was ahead 4-2, when Gabrielle was forced to retire hurt.

Gabrielle ended as the second seed, winning 87 games to 29 losses. Gabrielle had an average of 75 per cent.

Like Amarlia, Ballantyne was perfect in his eight matches played. He won 92 games, lost 2, a percentage of 92.

When Ballantyne faced Kyle Hall in the men’s final on Friday, Hall retired with a knee injury, but with Ballantyne leading 5-3 in the first set.

Hall was second with seven wins and one loss, while Boniface Ezeokele had a 5/2 win/loss ratio and docking fourth was Agostini Soleyn, six matches won and three lost.

Next up on the calendar of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Tennis Association is the International Tennis Federation Junior Tournament, set for the National Tennis Centre from August 12 to 19.