Thursday, March 28, 2024

Bajan reaches U-14 semis

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Young Andrew Symmonds will be carrying the hopes of Barbados when the ITF Junior Tennis Tournament continues this morning at the Barbados Yacht Club.
The talented Under-14 and No. 1 seed unreeled an array of ground strokes yesterday to be the sole Bajan standing in the singles.
With total control of the net and baseline, Symmonds first stopped Paul Oliver of the British Virgin Islands 6-1, 6-1, before advancing to the semis by crushing Alexander Cyrus of St Vincent 6-0, 6-0.
Symmonds will play Luke Smith of the United States who stopped Tjimon Louisy of St Lucia.
The other semi-final pits Trinidad and Tobago’s Aaron Soo Ping Chow against Taqel Lewis of St Lucia.
No. 2 seed Soo Ping Chow defeated James Stevenson of St Lucia 6-4, 6-3. Third-ranked Lewis beat Trinidadian Jelani Davidson 6-3, 6-3.
In earlier action, Xavier Lawrence lost in straight sets to Smith, Asher Wiltshire suffered a similar fate at the hands of Cyrus, Joshua Worme bowed to Davidson 6-7 (6), 7-5, 6-4 in a tough three-setter and Yannick Polanen fell to Soo Ping Chow 6-1, 6-3.
The Bajan girls stumbled in straight sets at Bay Street with Ilana Blackwood losing to Ashley Granieri of the United States and an out-of-sorts Symphony Griffith bowing 6-1, 6-4 to Anouk Ma Ajong of Suriname.
The National Tennis Centre did not provide better luck for the Barbadians, with Dylan Hall losing 1-6, 0-6 to Michael-John Every of the Netherlands Antilles, the No. 3 seed in the Under-18 division.
Simon Lewis also suffered a rough baptism against Javier Restrepo of the United States.
The top two seeds rolled along, while No. 3 Carmen Cordoba of Mexico was an early casualty in Monday’s action.
In Girls’ Under-18 section, No. 1 seed Madison Bourguignon of the United States and No. 2 Kandis Legall (also of the United States) ended the ambitions of Barbadians Melena Lopez  and Kiana Marshall, stopping them in straight sets in the first round.
Lopez went out 6-1, 6-1 while Marshall fought bravely before losing 6-1, 6-3 to Legall.
Compatriots Cherise Slocombe and Kayla Frost also bowed out in straight sets.
Unseeded American Alexandra Miller-Krasilnikov registered the  first upset of the  tournament, ousting No. 3 Cordoba in straight sets 6-4, 6-2 in an afternoon baseline battle.
Overall, it was a tough day for Barbados’ top juniors against seasoned international competitors seeking to improve their world rankings.
Barbadian Under-18 boys Matthew Hutchinson and Ajani King were unable to get past their opponents as Hutchinson was defeated 6-1, 6-4 by Neven Krivokuca of Croatia and King lost 6-2, 6-3 to Khalil Naji of Martinique.
More than 100 players from 30 countries along with coaching staff and supporters are here this week for the 18th annual tournament which is organized by the Barbados Tennis Association. (KB/PR)

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