Rudy Grant wins on return to tennis

Veteran Rudy Grant on Tuesday showed that not even a two year lay off could affect his play when he defeated Steve David-Longe in men’s 35 years and over singles of the Macorp Tennis Open competition at the Pegasus courts.

Grant had returned to competitive tennis on Saturday with a bang securing a 6 – 1, 6 – 1 win against Javier Uribe in a men’s 45 years and over singles match.

Rudy Grant

On Tuesday, Grant took down David-Longe 6 – 2, 6 – 2. Grant has been absent from competitive lawn tennis for about two years after injuring his knee.

However, Grant said after several sessions of rehabilitation work he felt it was time to return to the sport.

Grant said he was not sure if he would fare well so he opted to contest only the men’s 35 and 45 years and over singles while sitting out the men’s Open singles.

In the other men’s 35 years and over match Andre Lopes defeated Rawle Sue-Ho 6-0, 6-0. Meanwhile, Guyana’s number one junior player Shawna Gentle reached the final of the girls’ under 18 category after eliminating Aretta Dey 6 – 3, 6 – 1.

Dey reached the semis by defeating Afro Gentle 6 – 1, 6 – 2 win on Saturday last.

In the boys’ division, Seanden David-Longe defeated Benedict Sukra 6 – 0, 7 – 6 in a boys’ 18 years and under encounter.

David Longe had on Saturday ousted the number two seed Daniel Lopes.

Also still in the running for the title is the boys number one seed Gavin Lewis, who dealt a double bagel defeat to Alex Power on Saturday. In the men’s singles category Lewis was eliminated by Imo Fox 7 – 6, 6 – 4 on Sunday last.

Lopes, though, is still in contention for the men’s singles title after he defeated Nicholas Fenty 6 – 3, 6 – 1, also on Sunday.

In other men’s singles matches completed Ezra Sue-Ho defeated Khemraj Goberdhan 6-0, 6-0; Sandeep Chand defeated Rajesh Ramrattan 6 – 0, 6 – 2 and Rawle Sue-Ho defeated Mindat Lallbeharry

On Tuesday night Leyland Leacock defeated Owen Lewis 6-3, 6-4 in a men’s singles encounter.

In the women’s singles, Aruna Ramrattan defeated Nicola Ramdyhan 3 – 6, 6 – 3, 6 – 2, and Dey removed Thi Fernandes 6 – 2, 6 – 3. (TG)