Key battles loom at Swept Away tourney
NEGRIL, Westmoreland — Many-time champion Vince McKey will be seeking redemption when he takes on top-seed and another former winner Damion Johnson, in the semi-finals of the Men’s Open Singles at the 20th Couples Swept Away Clay Court Easter tennis tournament in Negril.
After failing to make it to the semi-finals last year, Californian McKey, who has been a fixture at the event for more than a decade, made sure of his top four place yesterday with two straight sets wins, beating Davian Burrell, 6-0 6-0, and David Goldsmith — the latter in the quarter-finals.
It was at this stage last year that the American was upset by eventual winner Joe Cadogan.
Johnson, who was also beaten by Cadogan in the final last year, struggled in his third-round match against Kirk Boland, winning in three sets, 6-1 4-6 7-1, before cruising past Nicholas Malcolm, 6-1 6-1, in the quarters.
The 21-year-old Trinidad-born Cadogan, who will hope to retain his title in tomorrow’s final, had little problems in his matches, beating English teenager Clay Crawford, 6-3 6-3, then veteran Max Brown, 6-2 6-2, and will play the winners of the quarter-finals between McCoy Malcolm and Yussuf Migoko that was on court at press time.
Malcolm earlier beat his older brother Marcus, 6-3 8-6, while Migoko accounted for Maurice Trail, 7-6 (10-8) 3-0, retired.
In the Women’s Open singles, top seed and former winner Diana Goldsmith booked her place in the semi-finals with two easy wins.
In her first match she eased past Lisa Cummings, 6-1 6-1, then beat American Monika Cyramy, 6-0 6-1, and will play the winners of the match between Shantal Blackwood and the Russian Karina Ahkmeddova in the last four today.
Other events being contested are the Pro 35 and over, Open Doubles and Amateur Doubles.