JAMAICA’S Alyssa James captured the nine and under singles title at the 11th annual 2017 “Little Mo” International Tennis Tournament held at the National Resorts and Spa, Palm Beach Gardens in Florida on Tuesday.

The Jamaican, seeded at number four in the singles, pulled off a major upset by defeating top seed Sasha Kilgour of the United States of America (USA) in straight sets, 7-6 (7-4 tie-breaker), 6-0.

The Jamaican, after a hard-fought first set that went into a tie-breaker, applied pressure on Kilgour in the second set, and as a result swept the set to register an impressive victory.

It was the second consecutive year that James was winning an age-group tournament at “Little Mo”. Last year she also captured the “Little Mo” eight and under singles title at the same venue.

James’s performance throughout the tournament was even more brilliant as she also defeated Natalia Oliver of the USA ,who was the winner of the first two series in New York and California. Jamaica did not participate in those events.

James in her semi-final defeated second-seed Oliver in straight sets 7-5, 6-1, while Kilgour beat third-seed Paola Pieragastini of Spain in straight sets 7-6, 6-1.

The nine-year-old James had received a first round bye before defeating unseeded Isabella Marlon of Canada 6-1, 6-0, and Justine Tardif, also of Canada in third round, 6-1, 6-4.

James was the lone Jamaican player in the main draw, while majority of the players came from the USA, Canada, Spain and Ecuador.

The tournament had 260 players participating in the eight and under, nine and under, 10 and under, 11 and under, and 12 and under singles for boys and girls.

This tournament is being held in honour of Maureen Connolly Brinker (MCB) and Nancy Jeffett, who both have promoted junior tennis development for 49 years which continues to benefit countless boys and girls throughout the USA and worldwide.