JAMAICANS found the going tough at the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Jamaica International Invitational Tennis Tournament being played at the Eric Bell Tennis Centre, Picadilly Road, yesterday.

Previously Jamaicans fared much better in first-round action where a number of them advanced, but yesterday the only Jamaican to survive any of the singles was Michaela Stephens, who defeated top seed Jade Wilkinson of the Cayman Islands in straight sets in the girls’ 14 main draw singles.

She will face second-seeded Maya Pitts of the United States (USA) in the final. Pitts beat Emma Dibbs of Jamaica in straight sets 6-2, 6-1 in yesterday’s semi-finals.

Jamaicans who lost in yesterday’s second round include Jacob Bicknell, who went down in straight sets to Daniel Maese of the United States 6-1, 6-2 in the boys’ 18 and under singles.

Nia Rose of Jamaica was beaten by fourth seed Seira Shimizu of Japan in straight sets 6-4, 6-0 in the girls’ 18 and under main draw singles second round.

In the semi-final of the boys’ 18 and under main draw singles, Jamaica’s Myles Harrison was beaten in straight sets 6-2, 6-3 by second seed Kyle Frost of Barbados.

The Jamaicans who won their first-round matches on Monday included Jacob Bicknel, who came from a set down to beat Alberto de Mendiola of Curacoa 3-6, 6-3, and was leading 2-1 in the third set when his opponent retired.

Nia Rose, a wild card in the girls’ 18 and under singles, was the only one advancing to yesterday’s second round after she won her first match 6-2, 6-3 over Ashley Dean of the US.

However, the other Jamaicans lost their first-round matches in the boys’ 18 and under singles: Kyle Martin in straight sets 6-0, 6-0 to Dylan Hall of Barbados; Andrew Bicknell in straight sets to sixth seeded Cardenas Penchyna 6-2, 6-1; Dimitri Bird in straight sets 6-4, 6-3 to John Paul Avila of Mexico.

In the boys’ 18 and under singles main draw, Myles Harrison of Jamaica defeated Santiago Tomas Pozuelo of Curacoa in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3 to move into the semi-finals, along with Michaela Stephens of Jamaica, who beat her compatriot Jenna Harrison 7-5, 6-2 to advance to the semi-finals in the girls’ 14 and under singles.

The quarter-finals of the boys’ and girls’ 18 and under singles will be played today at the Eric Bell Tennis Centre, starting at 9:00 am.