Junior tennis semis on today
BRANDON Tom will highlight today’s semi-final round of the Access-sponsored All Jamaica Junior Tennis Tournament when he meets Kyle Martin in the boys’ 18 and under singles.
Play is scheduled to begin at 9:00 am at the recently re-surfaced courts at the Eric Bell Centre on Piccadilly Avenue.
Tom overcame a slight back injury to secure his semi-final berth after defeating Daniel Hill in two sets 6-4, 6-0 in their quarter-final match-up yesterday.
“It was a tough game. In the beginning I really wanted to move my foot a lot and take all the chances he gave me to hit a winner or set up the point in my favour. But in the second set he was not at his full potential, so I just decided to keep the ball in play and wait for him to make a mistake,” he told the Jamaica Observer.
“It feels really good being in the semi-final, but I know it is going to be a lot of work to beat Kyle and hopefully my back will be ready at that time. If all goes well I am expecting to win…it should be a tough game, but I should be able to win,” added the 16-year-old.
Hill expressed disappointment, but showed heart in congratulating his opponent.
“Brandon is a good friend of mine and we practised together a lot. But I didn’t really play my best game and I am quite disappointed with how I played,” said Hill.
John Azar advanced from the 14 and under group with a 6-0, 6-1 two-set win over Sean-Taye Scott. John Chin and Alex Bicknell progressed from the 12 and under group after recording 4-0, 4-1 and 4-2, 4-2 victories over Keyon’dre Clarke
and Jordan Vaz, respectively.
Bicknell will meet Matthew James, while Vaz, who was given a walkover, will go up against Daniel Azar in the 10 and under category.
In the girls’ 18 and under section Michaela Stephens will battle Selena Blythe, while Emma Dibbs will face off against Leah Smyle.
Stephens will then do battle against Jenna Harrison, who has also secured a spot in the 14 and under category, while Moesha Fox and Cai Drummond will face off in the 12 and under singles.
Meanwhile, Katherine Dibbs and Selena Bird will meet in semi-final one of the 10 and under category, while Savannah Thompson will meet Alyssa James in the other encounter.