SELENA Bird from Heinz Simonitsch Private School in Montego Bay, captured the Girls’ 12 and Under-14 singles titles at the 2016 Green Energy-sponsored Russell Tennis Academy (RTA) Championships that ended at the Campion College courts last Sunday.

The two-day championships was highlighted by the performances of 10-year-old Bird from Montego Bay who was in amazing form with her returns and cross-court shots that drew several rounds of applause from the spectators.

“I feel very good as I went out to play. Her number-one seeding in the 14 and Under singles was no matter to me, along with her taller, slim height and being two years older than me,” Bird said.

She said her opponent, Moesha Fox, played extremely well, especially in the second set where the scores were level and had to be decided by a tiebreaker. “I was confident that I would have won, so I did not panic when it was level.”

Fox said Bird hit the balls very hard and tricked her several times in both sets. “At times I think she will be playing the shots into the corner, but she played it straight down the middle.

“One thing however, I produced too many unforced errors mostly in the first set, and against too many double faults. She played very well as she avenged the defeat I handed to her when we played in the All-Island Championships,” Fox said.

Bird, who has been playing tennis for the past four years, and is coached by her father, first captured the Girls’ 12 and Under singles title when she upset top seed Kathrine Dibbs of Immaculate Conception.

She then followed up with another impressive win by toppling top seed Fox from St Andrew High School for Girls in straight sets, 6-2, 7-6 (7-3).

Meanwhile, the Boys’ 14 and Under singles final was won by 13-year-old Richard Barnett of Campion College who upset second seed 12-year-old Blake Shoucair of Hillel Academy in straight sets 6-2, 6-1.

Second seeded in the Boys’ 12 and Under singles, 10-year-old Jordan Vaz defeated unseeded Keyondre Clarke of Hopefield Prep in straight sets 7-5, 6-3 to win the final.

In the semi-finals of the Boys’ 14 and Under Shoucair beat Dale Hewitt 4-6, 6-2 (10-6) in the super tiebreaker, while Barnett upset top seed Cole McNair 6-1, 2-6 ( 10-8) in the super tiebreaker .

The Girls’ 14 and Under saw Bird upsetting second seed Gisselle Sang in straight sets 6-1, 6-2, while top seed Fox swept past Kailen-Jade Waggon 6-2, 6-2.

Meanwhile, Peter Shoucair JP, managing director of Green Energy Savings Limited, said he was very pleased with the tournament and his aim is to continue his sponsorship every month.

“I would like to see more sponsors from corporate coming on board to support this venture. It is also a development structure and players can earn points towards their rankings. It helps the development mentally of the players, and also it is very entertaining,” Shoucair said.

Richard Russell, director of the Russell Tennis Academy said he was very pleased with the performances of the players and will be looking for a bigger turnout when the 16 and Under, and 18 and Under boys’ and girls’ tournament, on February 20-21, will be staged at Campion College.