[dropcap]J[/dropcap]ean Philippe Murray former champion in the doubles category at the recently held International Tennis Tournament in Barbados, defeated McColin Fontenelle in the men’s open final of the Pinehill Lucelec National Independence Tennis Tournament.
Murray a very adept and promising tennis junior player, represented St Lucia at the Commonwealth Youth Games last year in the Bahamas and at many other International tennis events across the region, even at our very own Coca Cola ITF Tournament where he was able to pass the second round, which is a great accomplishment for St Lucia Tennis.
Murray without difficulty secured the first set against Fontenelle 6-2. Fontenelle was very futile in keeping his composure and using his experience to defeat the junior player which got him easily agitated.
At the beginning of the second set, Murray continued dominating which led to Fontenelle walking off the court and not finishing the match. Murray was declared the champion of the men’s open category, without losing a set in the entire tournament.
In the boy’s 18 and under category, Maxx William defeated Aiden Bousquet in three sets. William won the first set in a tie break 7-6 (8-6). Bousquet being the energetic player that he is, easily took the second set 6-0.
William was forced to keep it together in the third and deciding set which he won, after a long battle with Bousquet. As a result, he was declared champion in the 18 and under boy’s category by chair umpire Gemma Lionel – Henry.
In the women’s open category, Meggan William national 18 and under unior player dominated all her matches. William faced Iesha Emile in the first round defeating her in straights sets after two hours of play. William continues to lead in the head to head against Emile, as the record shows Emile has never defeated her.
William went on to face Laurie Weissmann from Martinique defeating her 6-1 6-1. Then went up against Aviona Edmund (national 14 & under player) defeating her with the identical score 6-1 6-1.
William did not drop a set in the entire tournament and retained her number one ranking in the women’s open category in St Lucia.
In the girl’s 18’s category, Netayna Faissal emerged the champion. The draw for this age group was small. Faissal dominated the court with her powerful crosscourt backhands against Navit Isaac in her final match wining in straight sets.
