Mark McDonald and Jordan Beaton yesterday qualified for the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) under-18 final at the end of two tough matches at the bank’s recreational facility at Bel Air.
In the first semi-final McDonald defeated Hemraj Resaul 6/3 4/6 (10/7) while Beaton triumphed 6/4 1/6 (10/3) over Keenan Persaud.
Playing for the first time together Daniel Lopes and Aretta Dey defeated Khawn Rodney and Tracy Shamsudeen 6/0 6/1 in a mixed doubles encounter.
The winners dominated the match from start to end as they only lost one match point in the second set. Lopes ensured he controlled the game through some firm serves and rallies while his 17-year-old partner Dey, who has a Regional title (ITF/SVG U-14 female singles) to her name, was very agile on the court, producing a few superb backhand and forehand slams while playing the ideal supportive role.
On the back of the win the new pair earned a place in the semi-finals where they will challenge Afruica Gentle and Jason Andrews today at the said venue.
In a brief post-match comment, the pair said they are optimistic of winning their semi-final match against Andrews and Gentle.
Chethan Narayan went the distance on Friday to claim the title of Men’s over 35 champion after he overpowered Godfrey Lowden to win 6/4, 6/4. It was evident that both men brought their best game and pushed each other to produce spectacular tennis. Lowden led by a break in both sets but nevertheless was unable to maintain it. Narayan produced crisp and clean passing shots as he rattled Lowden at the net.
Leyland Leacock appeared to have gotten more relaxed as he goes deeper into the men’s open draw. He easily defeated Bishan Dalip 6/3 6/1 while defending champion Anthony Downes got his first workout of the tournament when he faced Oswin Coggins. He held on to win one game despite Downes directing most of the points with power and variety. Downes took the match 6/0, 6/1.
The match of endurance and will was played between Daniel Lopes and Andre Erskine. From the onset it was expected to be a match of great quality. In the first set Lopes had a 2/0 lead after one of the longest game points for the tournament this year. The pair went to deuce 12 times on Erskine’s first service game which had the spectators at the edge of their seats in suspense with each point. The score eventually tied at 4/4 but the effectiveness of Lopes’ sliced backhands proved to be the kryptonite for Erskine’s game.
While making a high percentage of winning shots he was unable to tighten his net game and win the volleys at the critical juncture of the game. The match was a constant shift of balance of power between the players but Lopes’ game was exemplary. He anticipated the ball well and played defensively to always stay in the point which forced Erskine to make the errors. Lopes won the game 6/4, 6/3 to set up a rematch against Anthony Downes who defeated him in the Assuria Singles Finals this year.
