Anthony Downes retained his men’s singles title while Carol Humphrey was crowned women’s champ as the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) lawn tennis tournament ended Sunday at the GBTI Recreational Centre courts.
Miller entered Sunday’s final looking to avenge last year’s defeat to Downes
but the defending champion produced a scintillating display to win in straight games 7-5, 6-3.
Downes and Miller forced each other to the limit hunting after the win in a match which featured for the first time in a local tournament the use of an electronic scoring system.
Downes clocked 21 winners to Miller’s 12 in the two-hour battle.
Miller had taken an early lead and up 5 – 4 had a chance to serve for the set but Downes produced some powerful groundtrokes on his way to breaking Miller’s serve before going on to take the first set 7-5.
In the second set Downes quickly raced to a 4-0 lead and though Miller fought on gamely, he was always behind the eight ball.
Unforced errors coupled with 12 doubles faults combined to give Downes a 6-3 win in the second set and the title.
In the female final Berbician Humphrey won the first set 6-1 and was 3-1 up when her opponent Shawna Gentle retired.
Steve David-Longe who won the men’s over 35 singles title when he mounted an amazing comeback against Mario Niamatalli in their super tie-break decider.
With each player winning one set, Niamatalli raced ahead in the decider before Longe staged a fight back prevailing 11-9 in the deciding set.
The mixed doubles title was won by Downes and Rebecca Mitchell who had to battle from a set down to defeat Godfrey Lowden and Humphrey, after the later retired in the third set with the match tied a set apiece and Downes/Mitchell leading.
The finals were followed by the presentation ceremony which included CEO of GBTI John Tracey, President of the GTA, Ramesh Seebarran and other officials.
