Johnson, Phillips to decide JN Open men’s final
TOP seed Rowland ‘Randy’ Phillips and defending champion Damion Johnson looked all set to face each other in the final of the 2015 Jamaica National Open men’s singles championship as they recorded convincing wins in their quarter-finals played at the Liguanea Club on Thursday.
Phillips defeated sixth-seeded David Goldsmith in straight sets 6-1, 6-2, while Johnson also knocked out seventh seed Yussuf Migoko in straight sets 6-1, 6-2 in their respective quarter-finals.
Last night, Phillips was scheduled to meet fourth-seeded Dwayne Pagon, while Johnson was set to face Marcus Malcolm in their respective semi-finals.
Phillips, who is looking forward for his third consecutive title, said it was the first time he will face Pagon in any match.
“He seems to be a very good player and his ground strokes are good. He is also a fighter and I won’t be taking any chances with him because I am going all out for victory,” Phillips said.
Defending champion and second seed Johnson had said he was going all out to win against Migoko, with whom he has played a number of times.
“When you reach the semi-final stage, you cannot take your opponent lightly. You have to play him hard. My fitness level is right where I wanted and my shots and serves are also working well, “ said Johnson, who is hunting a revenge win over Phillips, who defeated him in the All-Jamaica men’s singles final in September.
The women’s semi-finals were also set to be played last night with top seed Sheneka Knight facing the winner of the match between fourth-seeded Imega McNab and unseeded Monique Hanson, while the other semi-final should be between third-seeded Micheala Stephens and Hayley McNair.
The following are the results of matches played in the quarter-finals on Thursday night. Seventh seed Yussuf Migolo beat eighth seed Matthew Rodriquez 7-5, 4-6, 12-10 (super tie-breaker); Dwayne Pagon defeated unseeded Peter Berry 6-2, 6-2; third seed Marcus Malcolm turned back Jeremy Miller 6-1, 7-5.
— Gerald Reid