Jamaicans impress at ITF Master Championships in Mexico
JAMAICA’S boys’ team created a mild upset, beating one of the tournament favourites, The Bahamas, 3-0 in the quarter-finals of the 12-and-under-team event at the 2014 International Tennis Federation (ITF) Master Championships in Mexico, recently.
Jamaica got off to a good start when the three-time consecutive winner of the All Jamaica boys’ 12 and under, Johnny Azar, defeated Jacobi Bain 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 in the first singles to give the Jamaicans a 1-0 lead heading into the second singles.
Damani Cain then made it 2-0 when he got the better of Kofi Bowe 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 to give Jamaica an unbeatable lead and a spot in the semi-finals.
The fired-up pair of Azar and Cain then crushed the pair of Bain and Bowe 6-3, 6-2 in the doubles to seal the deal for the Jamaicans.
The Bahamas’ team was the winner of the pre-qualifying event which was held in St Lucia.
Meanwhile, the girls’ team consisting of Emma Dibbs and Michaela Stephens was not so lucky in their quest for a semi-final spot as they lost both of their opening encounters to hosts Mexico and Guatemala. They rebounded well to defeat The Bahamas 3-0 in their next game, but that wasn’t good enough to advance.
Heavy rains then forced the end of the tournament.