SVG young tennis players showing their worth

St. Vincent and the Grenadines young tennis players are positioning themselves well in the International Tennis Federation (ITF) 14 and under Caribbean Development Championship which concludes tomorrow August 18, at the National Tennis Centre at Villa.{{more}}

In the first two days of action last Monday and Tuesday, the Vincentians making use of home court advantage have returned good performances.

Led by ranked player Fabrice George, the home team secured several wins over their regional counterparts.

George competing in Group four whipped Sylvester John of Dominica 6-0, 6-2, Alex Leonard of the Cayman Islands 6-0, 6-1 and repeated this triumph over Seanden Longe of Guyana.

Shane Latchman placed in Group one, beat Michael Poole of the British Virgin Islands 6-0, 6-0. He also defeated Joel Lutchman of Suriname 5-7, 6-2, 7-6 and Joshua Abraham of Trinidad and Tobago 6-0, 6-3.

Also among the boys, Kevin Huggins playing in Group two beat Mergregor Mongroo of St. Lucia 6-1, 6-2, and William Byrd of the USVI 6-0, 6-0, but lost to Yannick James of Grenada 6-1, 4-6, 6-7.

The other male member of the home team Daryl Mac Leish playing in Group six, lost to Thomas Hill of Barbados 0-6, 2-6, but reversed this to beat Christian Attong of Trinidad and Tobago 6-1, 6-4.

Among the girls, Daneya Charles beat Naomi Braithwaite of Grenada 7-6, 6-1, but lost to Sarah Hue of Suriname 2-6, 1-6. She however whipped Andrienian Deandrade of the Netherlands 6-4, 6-1.

The other Vincentian Halimah Michael lost to Nicholette Leacock of Trinidad and Tobago 1-6, 4-6, but beat Jasmine Jack of Dominica 6-1, 6-1, and Ancia Ifill of Barbados 6-2, 6-1.

Twenty -two males and twenty-seven females from fourteen countries are vyeing for honours. The participating countries are Aruba, Barbados, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, the Netherlands Antilles, Suriname, St. Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, the United States Virgin Islands and host St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

The championship was officially opened last Monday night at the tennis centre. Speaking at the opening were President of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Tennis Federation Anthony Boyea, area representative Clayton Burgin, Sports Minister Glen Beache and Anthony Dennie Product Development Manager of the National Lotteries Authority, a major sponsor of the championship.(RT)