Vernon Lewis cops OECS tennis title

Players from Grenada, St Lucia, Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda and host country St Vincent and the Grenadines competed for the men’s singles, the women’s singles and mixed doubles crowns.

The men’s singles was won by defending champion Vernon Lewis of St Lucia, who has now claimed the title on six occasions.

He played Glynne James who now represents Grenada in the final and won 6-1, 6-1 continuing to show the younger players his technical and mental brilliance.

The women’s singles was won by St Vincent and the Grenadines female champion Lerissa Morris who won all three of her matches with St Lucia’s up and coming 14-year-old junior and senior champion Emma Dodd claiming second place.

The mixed doubles was won for the first time by St Lucia when the experienced Vernon Lewis— the oldest player in the tournament— teamed up with Emma Dodd, the youngest player in the tournament and won the finals 6-2, 6-3.

They defeated St Vincent and the Grenadines’ exciting young players Corey Huggins and Lerrisa Morris who have a bright future ahead of them.

Other players in the tournament were Carlton Bedminster and Jerry Williams (Antigua and Barbuda), Kirk Da Silva, Trevor Sam, Sonny Williams, Roxann Williams (St Vincent and the Grenadines), Simon Butler (Dominica) and Grenada’s promising 15-year-old Lois Alexis.

At a meeting during the event, presidents and representatives of the OECS Tennis Federations agreed that the 2006 tournament would be offered to Antigua and Barbuda — the date to be set by their Tennis Federation.

Grant Connell, president of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Tennis Federation advised the meeting that plans had been formulated to host a junior event in December that will be named the OEC Open junior Tournament and will be held annually.

The age groups will be 14 and Under and 18 and Under following ITF guidelines.

The OECS Sports Desk continues to facilitate sporting championships to assist with the development of sport and young persons through sport and encourages the regional sporting federations to take the lead role in the free movement of the OECS peoples within the member states.