BRADENTON, Florida (CMC) — A 12-year-old has created history by becoming the first Jamaican to reach the semi-final of the Eddie Herr Junior Tennis Tournament in the United States.

Blaise Bicknell lost his semi-final battle to Adam Neff of the United States 6-1, 6-1 as the tournament came to a climax over the weekend.

“It was a really hard tournament, but I surprised myself by reaching the semis,” said Bicknell.

“These players are very good, but the tournaments I have played earlier this year have really prepared me well.”

Neff is ranked number two in the world and number one in the USA.

Bicknell defeated the United States’ Graham Hadesman 6-1, 6-0, to advance to the round of 32, where he defeated Turkish number one player Kemal Karagovoglub 6-4, 6-2.

In the round of 16, Blaise fought bravely against a much stronger player, Peetu Pohjola, the Finnish number one junior player, and won 7-6, 3-0, when his opponent forfeited the match.

In his quarter-final match-up that lasted for nearly four hours, he defeated the tournament’s number 14 seed and top Korean player, Minjong Park, 6-7 (2), 6-4, 6-4.

“He has improved tremendously, listens well, is very competitive, trains non-stop and is very focused. I know he will win one of these high-level tournaments in the future,” said coach Mel Spence.

“I expect him to compete just as well in his next tournament next week at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida.”

The Eddie Herr International Junior Tennis Tournament has served as a springboard to the professional tennis tour for such names as Roger Federer, Maria Sharapova, Andy Roddick, David Nalbandian and Anna Kournikova.

Jamaican Blaise Bicknell of Jamaica in action Eddie Herr Junior Tennis Tournament in the United States over the weekend.