GBTI tennis tourney: Fernandes, Humphrey capture ladies’ doubles title

Thi Fernandes and Carol Humphrey defeated Krystal Sukra and Nicola Ramdyhan 6-3 3-6 6-4 in the final of the ladies doubles of the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) tourney Sunday at the bank’s Sports Club courts, Bel Air Park.

Kijana Lewis (left) and Mario Niamatali shake hands at the end of their men’s singles match.

Only four pairs contested the category and Fernandes/ Humphrey defeated Grace McCalman/Tanya Niamatali 6-2 7-5 in their semi-final encounter.

On the other half of the draw Sukra/Ramdyhan got the better of Abigail Welch/Aretta Dey 6-1 6-1 to reach the final.

In the men’s singles competition, Kijana Lewis reached the semi-finals after defeating Mario Niamatali 3-6 6-3 6-3.

He will play number-one seed, Philip Squires while Leyland Leacock and Jeremy Lewis will contest the other semi-finals.

On Saturday, Godfrey Lowden and Daly-Ramdyhan overpowered Jason Andrews and Grace McCalman 7-5 6-3 in a mixed doubles encounter while Jeremy Miller and  Shawna Gentle prevailed over Gilbert Barckoy and Carol Humphrey 6-4 6-2.

Gavin Lewis in action

In men’s doubles, Leacock and Barckoy eliminated Daniel Singh and Niamatali winning by default. They also defeated Singh and Niamatali 6 – 0 in the first set and were up 5 – 0 in the second set before the pair of Singh/Niamatali retired due to injury.  The much anticipated semi-final match between Andrews/ Miller against Squires/Lowden though lived up to expectations, ended in controversy with Miller/Andrews leading 6-4 5-4.

They are through to the final.

The semi-finalists in the junior girls and boys’ singles were decided on Friday.

In the girls’ singles, Sukra made light work of her doubles partner Ramdyhan winning 6 – 1, 6 – 1.

Sukra and number one seed Gentle will clash in the final.

Gentle, who gained a bye in the preliminary rounds, won by walk-over from Abigail Welch before defeating  Niatamali 6 – 3, 6 – 0 in the semi-finals.

Meanwhile, in the boys’ singles, Gavin Lewis and Daniel Lopes are through to the final after effortless wins in the semi-finals.

Lopes defeated Saevion David Longe 6 – 1, 6 – 1 while Lewis defeated national junior player Khalif Gobin 6 – 2, 6 – 2.

Matches continue tonight.