Guyana’s Richard Chin is the lone local male player remaining in the draw while Nicolette Fernandes, Larissa Wiltshire, Mary Fung – A – Fat and Taylor Fernandes have all booked quarter-final places in the female singles category of the ongoing Senior Caribbean Singles and Doubles Championships (CASA) after day one action ended last evening at the Georgetown Club.
The 49-year old Chin was relentless during his 3-1 come-from-behind win over Bryant Cumberbatch, a Barbadian.
After dropping the first set 7-11, the Guyanese took the next three sets and the match 11-4, 11-6, 11-5; he will face Jamaican Bruce Burrows in today’s quarters.
Meanwhile, junior Caribbean champion Shomari Wiltshire was involved in the most exciting match of the evening – a five-set thriller which he surrendered to Jamaican Julian Morrison 3-2.
The 15-year old Guyanese took the first two sets 11-8, 13-11 and seemed set for a quarter-final berth. Morrison, however, who seemed winded, bounced back to take the next three sets 11-3, 11-7, 11-9 to move into the quarters.
Jason Ray-Khalil was the other Guyanese who made it into the round of 16 before his campaign was ended by Khamal Cumberbatch.
Defending champion Christopher Binnie also moved into the quarters after the Jamaican completed an 11-8, 11-2, 11-3 win over Shawn Simpson.
Meanwhile, on the women’s side, multiple time Caribbean champion Nicolette Fernandes booked her quarter-final spot with a comfortable 11-5, 11-1, 11-2 win over Susie Howells.
Fernandes, who ended her pro career a few years ago, moved smoothly and struck the ball well during her triumph.
In today’s quarters, she will face fellow Guyanese Larissa Wiltshire, who defeated Trinidad’s Marie Barcant 11-3, 11-4, 11-6.
Taylor Fernandes also waltzed her way to the next round after defeating Jodi Padmore 11-5, 11-4, 11-6 while Fung – A Fat got her way with Lara Conolly 11-4, 11-9,11-5.
Ashley Degroot, on the other hand, went down against Eilidh Bridgeman 2-3.
Earlier in the day, Shomari Wiltshire got to the round of 16 by defeating Tahjia Lumley of Jamaica 8-11, 11-2, 12-10, 11-4 while Chin accounted for Brandon DeMontrichard of the Twin Island Republic 11-4, 11-5, 11-4.
Jason Ray-Khalil on the other hand, got the better of Bajan Zaki Williams 14-12, 11-6, 12-10.
Deje Dias went down to Cameron Stafford 3-11, 4-11,5-11 as Nicholas Narine was stopped by Joe Chapman 3-11, 3-11,1-11.
The Guyanese women were also dominant early on with Ashley Degroot defeating Emma Turnbull 15-13, 11-7, 11-8 while Taylor Fernandes made light work of Natalie Fay 11-1, 11-1, 11-2.
Larissa Wiltshire was also special in her opening bout as she downed Jayne Craig 11-4, 11-2, 11-5. Nicolette Fernandes and Mary Fung-A-Fat drew first-round byes while juniors Kirsten Gomes and Madison Fernandes were eliminated in the first round.
