ROWLAND ‘Randy’ Phillips and Shaneka Knight captured the men’s and women’s Jamaica National Open Tennis Championship singles titles, respectively, at the Liguanea Club in New Kingston last Saturday.

It was the first time both players have entered this tournament as they were in university in the United States of America.

Top seed Phillips won the men’s singles crown by defeating defending champion and second-seeded Damion Johnson in straight sets, 6-2, 7-6 (7-4 tie-breaker), while top seed Knight beat third seed Micheala Stephenson, also in straight sets 7-5, 6-2.

Phillips, who has now won the All-Jamaica, Swept Away Resort, and the Jamaica National Open this season, was pleased to have won.

“It was a very tough match as Johnson is a very tough player to defeat. He hits the ball hard and I had to hold my composure as I was down 2-4 in the second set which was much harder than the first set, which went into a tie-breaker, but I managed to pull off the win,” said Phillips.

The 21-year-old is now aiming to contest the Future Tennis tournaments overseas, set to begin next month.

Meanwhile, dethroned champion Johnson, even while congratulating Phillips, said it was a good match.

“I had a few problems during the match as it was hard seeing the ball and I had to work really hard for each point. I played very well but things did not turn out for me as I made too many mistakes by hurrying my shots when I was up in the second set 4-2,” Johnson said.

In the semi-finals played last Friday night, Phillips defeated fourth-seeded Dwayne Pagon in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2, while Johnson also won in straight sets over third seed Marcus Malcolm 7-5, 6-3.

After her success, Knight said it was a good battle with Stephenson as she had to rally from being down 2-5 in the first set and had to adjust her game and slow down her opponent.

“I fought back well in the first set to level at 5-5 and kept going and went on to win the next two games to win the first set. I then took control of the second set, and determined to win, went up 5-0 despite her managing to win two games, but it was too much for her to come back and I came out an easy winner in the end,” Knight said.

Meanwhile, 13-year-old Stephenson, who attends Liberty Academics Academy, blamed her forearm for the loss, especially in the second set.

“It was a very good match and I don’t think she really took control. However, I am glad that I won two games in the second set as I played extremely well throughout and produced a number of winning shots,” Stephenson said.

The Class Three men’s singles final was won by Scott Davis, who beat Jermaine Case in three sets, 6-4, 2-6, 6-2, while the Class Two men’s singles final was won by Stephen Shirley who defeated top seed Leighton Burton in three sets 6-2, 2-6, 6-1.

The Championship was sponsored by Jamaica National, Toyota Jamaica Limited, Singer Jamaica Limited, Liguanea Club, Hi-Lyte and Tennis Jamaica.