Top junior player Afruica Gentle showed she is a force to be reckoned with when she stormed into the girls’ 14 years and under final of the International Tennis federation (ITF) Wilson Junior Open tournament in St Vincent and the Grenadines on Tuesday.
Playing in the semi-final at the Grass Roots tennis Centre facility, Gentle was anything but reaching the final with a resounding 6-2, 6-0 thrashing of unseeded Trinidadian Candace Cook.
The 12-year-old will play number two seed and home favourite Amarlia Benn in the final. Young Jordan Beaton reached the boys’ 14 years and under Consolation final by inflicting a double bagel 4-0, 4-0 defeat over Miguel Francis.
That apart, a number of Guyanese players was sent crashing out of the tournament with Kaylaca Fraser, Keenan Persaud, Mark McDonald and Nicola Ramdyhan all bowing out.
Fraser playing in the girls’ 14’s Consolation draw went down in straight sets 0-4, 1-4 to Shania Williams while Persaud lost his opening encounter in the boys’ 14 years and under Consolation draw in straight sets to Justin Marcano 0-4, 3-5 while Richard Hoyte defeated McDonald 4-0, 4-1.
Ramdyhan who was Guyana’s main hope in the girls’ 18 years and under was comprehensively beaten in her second round encounter 6-0, 6-0 by Canadian eight seed Jade Hilton. In doubles action, McDonald and Persaud lost to Vincentians Alexander Cyrus and Ronald Hoyte 6-2, 6-2 whist their counterparts Beaton and Keshon Reece hammered Miguel Francis and Justin Marcano 6-2, 6-0 to progress to the semi-finals.
