Following a disappointing performance by a majority of St Lucian players at the recently concluded ITF Coca-Cola Junior International Tennis Tournament, hopefully in time to come the multi-million dollar National Tennis Centre will serve its purpose and elevate the sport in St Lucia.
On Friday the curtains came down on the week long tournament with the finals being played in the Girls and Boys Under-18 Singles and doubles main draw. St Lucian players were not among the semi-final or finalists in this age group.
During a brief prizegiving ceremony attended by Jane Du Boulay on behalf of the sponsor Du Boulay’s Bottling Company (bottlers of Coca-Cola) and Tournament Director, Stephen Charlery, awards were presented to the top players.
Unseeded Sara Ottomano (Switzerland) won the Girls Singles Main Draw Under-18, defeating Simone Pratt (Bahamas) 6-3, 1-6, 6-0 in the finals. Ottoman also received the Best Sportswoman Award from Du Boulay.
In the Boys Under-18 Main Draw final, number five seed Carter Lin (USA) got past the number two seed Daniel Khanin (USA) 6-2, 7-5.
In the Girls Under-18 Doubles final, Madison Bourguignon/ Ottomano defeated Jasmin Jebawy/Pratt 7-5, 6-1. In the Boys Under-18 Doubles final, Lin/Remy were victorious over Michael John Emery/Khanin 7-5, 6-3.
While it was tough going for St Lucian players in the main draw, there was success in the lower age groups. In an all St Lucian affair, Jordan Hunte won the Boys Under-10 Division Singles title in a very exciting tie break against Nicholas St John.
In the Boys 12 and Under Division, Jean Phillip Murray came away with the singles championship defeating Cordell Williams of Antigua.
Tournament Director Charlery, received a special award from Du Boulay in appreciation for his contribution to the 28th Annual ITF Coca-Cola Junior International Tennis Tournament.
