GTC duo reignite tennis prospects

Che Connell and Akeil De Roche both copped titles in the recently concluded national junior Christmas tennis tournament hosted by the St Vincent and the Grenadines Tennis Association.

The duo, members of the Grassroot Tennis Club (GTC), which has been without a permanent home since 2016, showed that they have still tennis in them.

Connell won the boys Under-14 singles and De Roche, the boys Under-18. De Roche was also the losing finalist in the boys Under-16.

It has been a return to tennis for De Roche, who for the past three years, has turned to squash as an alternative to tennis.

Connell and De Roche were emerging products of the GTC, which began operations at the Haddon Hotels courts on Murray’s Road in February 2010, but at the end of August 2016, lost use of the premises.

Since then, the GTC has been unsuccessful in acquiring a permanent home, including attempts to lease two courts at the National Tennis Centre.

But the recent successes of Connell and De Roche at the national junior Christmas tennis tournament should provide the impetus for the GTC to get going full throttle again.

Apart from Connell and De Roche, there were others who emerged as winners at the tournament, which ran from December 14 to 21.

Winning the boys Under-10 singles titles was Zachary Mc Lawrence, with Jahaziel Garraway, the runner-up.

Taking the girls Under-10 singles was Danielle Clarke, with Natalie Clarke, the runner up.

Angello Morgan copped the boys Under-12, ahead of Jaiden Bowens, who took second place.

Afe Lucas won the girls Under-12 and added the Under-14 title as well, beating Yasmine Sandy and Steadysha Peniston respectively in the finals.

Afi Lucas overcame De Roche in the final of the boys Under-16.

Winning the boys Under-14 doubles were Angello Morgan and Jaiden Bowens over Volodymyr Zhuravlov and Khallefe Sheen, with Afe Lucas and Yasmine Sandy, taking the girls Under-14 doubles, with Steadysha Peniston and Zareah Byron, the losing finalists.

For winning three titles, Afe Lucas was the declared the Most Outstanding Player.

The tournament, which had as director Anthony Boyea, saw 35 players contesting for honours.