Ahlil Cyril pouches tennis titles on his home soil

NINE-YEAR-OLD Ahlil Cyril returned to the land of his birth, St Lucia, on the occasion of that country’s independence, to take three titles at the 2020 Independence tennis classic.

Representing X- Cel Tennis Academy here in St Vincent and the Grenadines, Cyril, pouched the boys’ 12 and under singles, as well as the green ball title.

Not done, Cyril, with the help of Sanjay Lake, added the green balls double title, for good measure.

Cyril got the 12 and under title, when he defeated Nathaniel Charles in that age group’s decider.

Cyril’s other victim was Jaelyn Henry, whom he overpowered 5-3, 4-2, to win the green ball trophy.

And, Cyril and Lake combined to whip Henry and Amir Jean Marie, 1-4, 4-2, 10-5, to secure the green ball doubles.

Joyous at his first major tennis title, Cyril has his eyes set on hauling in more.

A fan of Swiss professional tennis player Roger Federer, Cyril, who began playing tennis at the age of six, is pumped to continue to train with his present coach, Kebajah King.

Already, Cyril diclosed, he has adopted some of Federer’s traits, that of “confidence and respect for officials”, which he plans to hold to as his mantra.