Champs declared in SVG’s leg of ITF Junior circuit

The St Vincent and the Grenadines leg of the International Tennis Federation’s (ITF) Under-18 Junior Tennis circuit finished last Saturday at the National Tennis Centre at Villa.

 Eliot Spirrizzirri, of the USA, beat Diego Gonzalez of Venezuela, in straight sets, 6-3, 6-1, to be crowned the male champion.

In the doubles, Jose Daniel Dominquez Collado and Juan Sebastian Dominguez Collado did not have to sweat for the title, as Spirrizzirri stood alone. His partner, Roger Lyn, also of the USA, was not present when play was called.

Retirements were the order of play in the females’ finals.

Willa Bay Breunich of the USA was leading 4-2 over Mell Elizabeth Reasco Gonzalez of Ecuador, who then retired.

And, in the doubles, Odette Beagrie of the USA and Remika Ohashi of Japan won with the match at 3-6, 2-1.  They were handed the title, as Willa Bay Breunich and Sofia Camila Rojas, also of the USA, retired from the rest of the match.

Host St Vincent and the Grenadines, was among over 30 countries which contested the week-long tournament.

With representation from Ariel Ryan, Gabrielle Benn, Briana Nash, Alexi Humphrey and Amarlia Benn, St Vincent and the Grenadines’ stay in the tournament was short, as they all bowed out at the first stage of the main draw.

Ryan was beaten by Jennifer Kida of the USA in straight sets 6-0, 6-0 and Gabrielle Benn was defeated by Japan’s Sena Takebe, the third seed, 6-1, 6-2.

Nash, who won the Under-14 division last year, fell to number five seed, Sofia Rojas of the USA, 6-0, 6-0 and Humphrey crashed out 6-3, 6-1 to Valaine Clarke.

 In doubles play, twin sisters Amarlia and Gabrielle Benn were no match for Breunich and Rojas of the USA. The US pair won 6-1, 6-2.

And, Ryan, when combined with Osenyonye Nwokolo of Trinidad and Tobago, suffered a 6-1, 6-2 beating from Sanaa Hewitt of Barbados and Miu Yabuta of Japan.