Venom cripples Branch on court

Top seed Mark “Venom” Griffith didn’t waste any time in stamping his authority on the Barbados Public Workers Credit Union’s Monarch Of The Court Road Tennis Tournament on Wednesday night at the Big Rock Arena.

The tournament favourite seemed to have intimidated Jamal Branch even before the first serve and romped to a 21-11, 21-7 triumph.

Griffith didn’t have to do anything special to nullify Branch, who ironically seemed to give up or lose interest after a relatively good start in the first set.

In the initial exchanges, there wasn’t more than a point separating the two, but once Griffith took control, Branch was there for bait and the champion played like the predator he’s known to be when things go his way.

Please read the full story in today’s Weekend Nation, or in the eNATION edition.