Philip Squires proved too strong for Anthony Downes in the men’s singles final while Shelly Daly-Ramdyhan secured victory over an injured Carol Humphrey to win the ladies’ singles title when the curtains came down on the Banks DIH sponsored `Plus Energy’ Lawn Tennis championships Saturday evening at the Le Meridien Pegasus Courts.
Downes, who won the boys’ 18-years final never got his game going and crumbled under power serving by Squires and several effective backhand strokes.
The right-handed Squires won in straight sets 6-2, 6-3 in under an hour and he was so confident of winning he switched and played several returns with his left hand to the amusement of the fair-sized crowd gathered at the venue.
Downes looked confident at the start of the seniors encounter but as soon as Squires got his game together his efforts faded.
In the ladies’ final Daly-Ramdyhan came from a set down to beat Berbician Carol Humphrey 6-7 (6-8), 6-2, 6-4 in a hard-fought contest.
Humphrey, who was suffering from cramps added to a nagging knee injury, won the first set in a tie break 8-6, but Daly-Ramdyhan bounced back to take the second set 6-2.
Both players were locked in a fierce battle in the final set but Humphey, in attempting a low return, fell to the ground in agony and the match was halted for a while.
She eventually returned to the court but lost momentum and succumbed 4-6 to the top seed.
In other results, Downes earned a hard-fought victory over Jeremy Miller 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 in just over two hours on Friday evening in the boys’ 18-year-and-under final.
In the men’s doubles final, Squires teamed up with Godfrey Lowden of Berbice, to defeat Jason Andrews/Jeremy Miller 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 in yet another high-quality match.
In the mixed doubles final, the number one pair of Squires and Daly-Ramdyhan defeated the Berbician pair of Lowden/Humphrey 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 to retain the top spot for the fourth time.
The presentation of prizes took place immediately after the finals with Banks DIH Communications Manager Troy Peters and `Plus Energy’ Brand Manager Anthony Lewis assisting with the distribution of prizes.
Vice President of the Guyana Lawn Tennis Association (GLTA) Dr. Joseph Haynes expressed appreciation to Banks DIH for sponsoring the tournament, while GLTA General Secretary Grace Mc Calmon called for more co-operate support to the GLTA.
Peters said the tournament was run off in a professional manner and pledged his company’s continued support to the GLTA.