TT players in IBM tennis finals

TRINIDADIANS dominated the Boys and Girls Under-12 and Under-14 singles matches at the IBM-sponsored Internation-al Tennis Federation (ITF) Junior Circuit Tennis Tourna-ment yesterday. Before afternoon showers put a halt to proceedings at the PSA Tennis Facility, St James, Lee-Ann Lingo lost a tense Girls U-12 final to Miyolou Evertsz of Aruba 6-1, 2-6, 6-3. But Lendl Smith advanced to the boys Under-14 final after a 6-2, 6-2 triumph over fellow Trinidadian Noah Haynes. Both the Boys Under-12 and Girls Under-14 finals, scheduled to take place today, will feature all-Trinidadian affairs.

In the Boys Under-12s, Jovani Lewis blanked Suriname’s Eric Dawson 6-1, 6-2 while Abdoulaye Camara thrashed countryman Seve Day 6-0, 6-2. Kiran Pereira had little trouble in disposing of fellow Trini Akeela Smith 6-0, 6-1 in the Girls Under-14 semis while Carlista Mohammed overcame Jamila Sairas of Suriname 6-4, 7-5. On Wednesday Olivia Bennett’s quest to capture the Girls Under-18 singles title ended at the Jean Pierre Sports Complex, Mucurapo at the quarter-final stage. Bennett, the lone Trinidadian player remaining in the draw, was beaten in straight sets by Marina Cossou of France 6-1, 6-2.

Another Frenchwoman Char-lotte Douwma also booked a spot in the semis after a 6-1, 6-2 triumph over Latrell Reid of the USA, American Missy Clayton eased past Andrea Brenes of Costa Rica 6-2, 6-3 while Adrianne Duenas, also of the USA, had a walkover victory over Natalia Baez of the Dominican Republic. All four American players in the boys Under-18 singles reached the final four, with Markus Fugate defeating David Lopez of Panama 6-3, 6-2; Jean Yves Aubone overcoming Ryan Sweeting of the Bahamas 6-2, 6-4; Alex Stone crushing Barbadian Devan Mc-Cartney 6-1, 6-0 while Alex Clayton hammered Gustavo Carvalho of Brazil by a similar scoreline.

OTHER RESULTS —
Boys U-12 doubles semi-finals: A Camara & J Lewis bt E Dawson & G Issa 6-4, 6-1; F Valk & V Wilson bt J Gouveia & D Kabli 1-6, 6-2, 7-5.
On Wednesday —
Boys U-14: Christopher Brash (TT) bt Graeme Jones (TT) 8-3; Leon Fraser (TT) bt Christopher Koo (TT) 8-3; J’amor Hercules (Great Britain) bt Jerome Branker 8-6; Xavier Robles (Suriname) bt Devan Wharton (Barbados) 8-5; Noah Haynes (TT) bt J’amor Hercules 8-3.
Girls U-14: Samantha De Gannes (TT) bt Zamara Samson (Suriname) 8-7 (8-3); Mallory Engelhardt (Aruba) bt Gizelle Clarke (TT) 8-0; Kiran Pereira (TT) bt Samantha De Gannes 8-0; Akeela Smith (TT) bt Roxanne Russell (St Vincent) 8-5; Jamila Sairas (Suriname) bt Raye Ann Sandy (TT) 8-1.
Boys U-12: Jovani Lewis (TT) bt Gian Issa (Suriname) 6-2, 6-2; Abdoulaye Camara (TT) bt Kevan Karojo (Suriname) 6-2, 6-1.
Girls U-12: Lee Ann Lingo (TT) bt Cristina Bennett (TT) 6-0, 6-2; Miyolou Evertsz (Aruba) bt Jozelle Hercules (Great Britain) 6-0, 6-0.