Good performances at Guardian Life Open Junior Tennis Championships
THE 14th staging of the Guardian Life Open Junior Tennis Championships held recently at Liguanea Club ended with some good performances by the youngsters.
The girls, who were separated into three categories — beginners, intermediate and advanced levels — saw 11-year-old Under-12 champion Micheala Stephens defeating Alex Marzouca 8-5 to clinch the top spot at the advanced level.
According to Stephens, it was a hard game but she stuck to the task against her much stronger and agile opponent.
“I had to fight to win. The game was long, as she was moving me around and I was moving her around. My feet started to hurt me, so I had to pace the ball so she wouldn’t move me that fast,” Stephens said.
In the girls’ intermediate category, Hayley McNair got the better of Mikki Charles 6-4, while Anishka Simpson defeated Savannah Thomson 6-2 in the girls’ beginner’s finals.
“I came here to win and I feel good that I did my best during the match and came out victorious,” Simpson said.
In a very competitive and challenging encounter in the boys’ section, Cliff Dwyer defeated Daniel Hill 6-4, 6-3 to lift the Under-16 crown. According to Dwyer, Hill is a great player and this was played out in a tough and physical encounter.
“We have played a lot of great matches together. I started a bit nervous this time but by the end of the first set I started playing my game. He tried to get the momentum going in [the] second set, but I stayed on him and eventually won the game,” Dwyer said.
Other winners included Damani Cain, who defeated Dimitri Traile 8-4 in the boys’ Under-14 category, and Cole McNair, who prevailed for a 6-2 win against Alexander Bicknell.
Leroy Dallas, senior sales advisor at Guardian Life Limited, encouraged the players to continue training and improving their craft.
“There was real talent on display here. For those who were not successful, continue doing your best, while those who did well, commit yourself to excellence and see yourself playing on the international arena,” Dallas said.
The next tournament in the Llockett McGregor Tennis Series is scheduled for October 11 to 12, 2014 at Liguanea Club and is sponsored by Mayberry Investments Limited.