Up-and-coming talents emerge at National Junior Tennis Tournament

SOME NEWTALENTS came to the fore when the St Vincent and the Grenadines Tennis Association staged its 2025 National Junior Tennis Tournament, from July 14 to 18, at the National Tennis Centre, Villa. Several who did well in the tournament are fairly new to the sport.

Among the new talent was Elaina Grant of Great Head Tennis Academy, who defeated Myiah Bailey, Janai George, and Tezza Sutherland en route to the Girls Under-10 title.

Winning the Boys Under-10 Singles final was Keyondré Gaymes of Love-All Tennis Academy, who saw off David Mei 7-6. Mei represented Cobalt Racquet Sports Academy.

Keyondre also took the Under-12 title, beating Zion Byfield of Fuzion Tennis Academy, 4-2, 5-3 in the final.

Winning the Girls Under-12 was Nakayda Cain of Fuzion Tennis Academy, who had a 4-1, 4-1 triumph over her club mate, Amaia Waterstone 4-1, 4-1, as the two duelled for the accolade.

Meanwhile, Colbalt Racquet Sports Academy’s Loukhya Premraj defeated both Cain and Waterstone to win the Girls Under-14. Premraj also claimed the Under-18 singles, outdoing Chloe Bruce, and Kuba Francis in the process.

Ethan Kent copped the Boys Under-14 and Under -18 titles. Kent, of Cobalt Racquet Sports Academy stopped Akquin Johnson of Fuzion Tennis Academy 6-4, 6-2 in their final.

Before that, Kent overpowered Keython Gaymes of Love-All Tennis Academy 7-5, 6-1, to win the 18s title.

Kent, along with Keython Gaymes won the Under-18 Doubles, ousting Johnson and Diallo Burgin, 6-1, 6-2.

Keyondré Gaymes and Rakeem Huggins beat David Mei and Darryl Richards-Pope 6-3, 6-1, to take the Boys Under-14 Doubles; with the pair of Cain and Waterstone bettering Premraj and Kuba Francis 7-6, 6- 3, to secure the Under-18 Doubles title.

In addition, Kethyon Gaymes and Makayda Cain were rewarded for their exemplary sportsmanship, throughout the Tournament.