Number one see and defending champion Anthony Downes retained his men’s singles Open title as he defeated number two seed Leyland Leacock 6-4 7-5 in straight sets as the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) Open lawn tennis tournament concluded at the company’s Recreational Club in Bel-Air Park on Saturday.
Commencing under lights in front of a small crowd , Leacock made the brighter start in the opening set as he battled and broke the defending champion’s serve to take an early 4-2 lead.
With Downes cranking up the power on his serves, Leacock simply blocked the first service return while hammering the second serves. However, Leacock’s inexperience would start to show as Downes began to utilize his vast competitive experience.
Employing volleys, the slice and cross court winners, the defending champion would triumph in the next four consecutive service games as he closed out the first set 6-4.
In the second set, unforced errors and double faults would highlight Leacock’s game as the stronger Downes continued to utilize his effective power game to take the lead. However, the number two seed battled back to pull within one game at 5-6.
Leacock’s second set resurgence and momentum would be extinguished as Downes quickly regained his composure to close out the set and take the match 7-5.
In an encounter that was typified by a strategy and craft, Godfrey Lowden pummeled Carlos Adams in straight sets by a 6-4, 6-1 score line to be crowned the men’s O35 singles champion.
