High praise for Northwest Tennis Tournament

Maxx William, Aryan Gupta, Client Mitchell, Arden Rosemond, Aviona Mitchell and Iesha Emile were among the players featured prominently, at the first ever Northwest Tennis Tournament played at the Kenneth “Wriggler’ King Multi-Purpose Sports Complex.

The tournament came to a close Wednesday evening, but not before spectators saw a highly entertaining match in the boy’s 18’s final between William and Gupta. It was worth the price of admission-if there was admission! William having lost the men’s final against Mitchell Monday evening, won a hard fought three setter against Gupta 3-6, 6-4, 6-3. Both players used everything in their arsenal – lobs, blistering ground strokes, drop shots, half volleys and wicked serves to gain the advantage with William prevailing in the end.

When asked if winning the 18’s final made up for losing the men’s final William replied: “Yes, it was a big comeback from how I played in my last match. I think the last match really helped me a lot confidence wise. I still need to work on my emotions a little more, but all it all tonight it was a good match.” He admitted to being a bit shaky in the first set, then afterwards changed his game plan and decided to “keep the ball in play, keep it low, and keep it deep, because he [Gupta] wasn’t really bending.”

For William the turning point in the match came in the second set when it was 2-2. That’s when he realized Gupta’s game slowed down and he picked up his own game. Gupta who is 16 years old and attends school in Florida, had not played here in quite a while here. He was lost for words when commenting on the match. Obviously disappointed with the outcome, he shook his head then said, “I really don’t know what happened.” Gupta agreed that the turning point in the match came in the second set when it was tied. Again repeated, “I really don’t know what happened.”

Serving was a big factor in the game and although he made no excuses for losing, Gupta did tell me he was nursing an elbow injury. During a brief prize giving following the match, Founder and Director of Tiger Tennis InFLOW Tennis Academy, Sirsean Arlain addressed the players. “Welcome to the first of what we hope are many Northwest Championships down here at the Gardens,” he said: “This tournament marks the first of a lot ofthings.

Of course it is the first Northwest Championships taking place, here but it is also the first official tournament where we actually got into red and orange ball tennis which was very well attended. This also the first tournament we hosted in every age group from 10’s all the way up to veterans. We are very thankful to Northwest Limited coming in and handing us our second event of the year.”

Northwest Limited Director, Larry Bain also delivered brief remarks: He congratulated everyone that took part in the tournament and said: “I am so thrilled to be part of it again. Tennis is part of the Bain family. We all played, my father played, I played, and my brother played for the island and so tennis is in our DNA. When Sirsean approached us about this tournament it was an easy fit. I was very entertained this evening with the final so congratulations to everyone.”

If Sirsean has any concerns about the future of this competition he can sleep peacefully, following a thumbs up from Bain who said: “We really are hoping we can throw all our mustard behind this tournament and perhaps we can go year, after year, after year. I think what Tiger Academy is doing down here is thrilling and I tip my hat to Sirsean. A really great tournament and we look forward to doing it next year.”

Following are the results in the following age categories with the first place winner followed by the runner-up. Orange ball challenge (10’s): Jaelin Henry, Matthew George.

Girl’s 12’s: Amelia Rosemond, Alejandra Charles. Boy’s 12’s: Jaidyn Matthew, Lawnell Raymond.

Girls 14’s: Amelia Rosemond, Alejandra Charles. Boy’s 14’s: Arden Rosemond, Corey Charles.

Girls 16’s: Aviona Edmund, Nadjema Morille: Boys 16’s: Arden Rosemond, Aaron Gerald. Girls 18’s: Aviona Edmund, Netanya Faissal. Boys 18’s: Maxx William, Aryan Gupta.

Girls 18’s doubles: Edmund/Morille, Leon/Faissal. Boys 18’s doubles: Gupta/William, Gerald/Rosemond.

Women’s final: Iesha Emile, Aviona Edmund. Veterans: Glenton Evans, Jonathan Evans. Men’s final: Client Mitchell, Maxx William.

Women’s doubles: Morille/Edmund, Paul/Emile. Men’s doubles: Mitchel/William, Evans/Fontenelle.