Skeene starts Catch U-14, U-16 title bids

Skeene was flawless in dismissing Alyssa Pascall 4-0, 4-0 in an U-14 clash. Skeene is the heavy favourite to take both age group titles. Also starting with a win in the Under-14 Girls class was Tobagonian Nicholette Orr with a battling victory over Isabella D’Arcy 1-4, 5-3, 4-0.

In the Boys Under-14 round robin category, Liam Sheppard got past Kamran McIntosh-Ross barely, coming from behind to scrape a 2-4, 4-2, 5-4 victory.

McIntosh-Ross returned to the court later in the day, though, to brush aside Enoch George 4-0, 4-0 to keep his campaign alive.

Abigail Chin Lee was in good form yesterday, picking up two wins as the Girls Under-10 round robin action served off as well. Chin Lee took care of Avila Marshall 4-1, 5-3 and dropped just one game in beating Brianna Harricharan 4-0, 4-1 in her later fixture. Earlier yesterday, Sports Minister Darryl Smith opened the tournament which runs until Thursday.

Smith was happy to see the number of participants and the parents that came out to support.

He thanked the president of Trinidad and Tobago Tennis Association, Hayden Mitchell, for working alongside the Ministry to push the development of the sport at the primary school level.

He stated that the Ministry is developing plans for clay courts as this will be better for young tennis players in the sport. He thanked the main sponsor Catch and all other sponsors for their continued support over the years.

Mitchell stated that it is the vision of the Association to have their players be among the top 150 in the world by 2026. He said this is in part made possible by sponsors like Catch, who have over the past 29 years contributed to the Championships.

Other results: BOYS U-14 - Alijah Leslie def Nathan Valdez 5-3, 4-1; Ebolum Nwokolo def Ryan Conyers 4-1, 4-0; Shae Millington def Ty Mitchell 4-0, 4-1; Ethan Wong def Nicholas Ready 4-1, 4-1; Kyle Kerry def Aron Cato 4-0, 4-0; David Rodriguez def Christopher Roberts 4-0, 4-0; Emmanuel Porther def Ryan Conyers 4-1, 4-2; Nathan Valdez def Tyler Chamberlain w/o.

GIRLS U-14 - Emily Lawrence def Chelsea Riley-Moodoo 4-0, 4-1; Maria Honore def Isabella D’Arcy 4-0, 4-0; Janay Sealy def Alexis Bruce w/o; Isabel Abraham def Gabriella MacKenzie 4-1, 4-0; Aalish Alexis def Charlotte Ready 4-2, 4-1; Kaela Frank def Haleigh Fabres 4-0, 5-3; Jade Ali def Alyssa Pascall 4-0, 4-1; Charlotte Ready def Kryshelle Cudjoe 4-2, 4-1; Cameron Wong def Gabriella MacKenzie 4-1, 4-0, Shauna Valentine def Janay Sealy 4-2, 5-3; Nicholette Orr def Isabella D’Arcy 1-4, 503, 4-0; Charlotte Merry def Chelsea Riley- Moodoo 4-2, 4-0.

BOYS U-10 - James Hadden def Brian Harricharan 4-0, 4-1; Leeum Chan Pak def Varel Wilson w/o; Leeum Chan Pak def- Brian Harricharan 4-0, 4-0.

GIRLS U-10 - Jaeda-Lee Daniel- Joseph def Brianna Harricharan 4-0, 4-1; Inara Chin Lee def Eva Pasea 4-1, 5-4.