It was a gruelling day for Barbados’ tennis players at the start of the International Tennis Federation’s J5 Barbados tournament as all of them lost their singles matches yesterday at the National Tennis Centre in Wildey, St Michael.
Number one ranked Barbadian Xavier Peter-Gooding started well in his noon clash against Kristofer Brkic on Court 5, winning the first set 6-4 and looking well in control.
However, his opponent fought back in the second to push it to a decider. Peter-Gooding never regained momentum after a contentious point fell in favour of Brkic to make it 4-3 in the third set, and he suffered a 6-4, 3-6, 3-6 defeat.
Cristian Blunte was soundly beaten in straight sets 6-0, 6-0 in his round of 32 match by America’s number one seed Lev Seidman.
Aidan Clarke fared slightly better, losing 6-3, 6-0 against Nicholas Reeves who hails from America. With the game tied 3-3 in the first set, Clarke’s only racket had its strings pop and he was forced to borrow one, with disastrous results, as he failed to win another game for the rest of the match.
American Dillion Beckles cruised into the round of 16 by beating Jaden Chandler from Barbados 6-0, 6-1 and Vincentian Afi Lucas beat Justin Akins in a close fought 6-4, 6-3 match on Court 5.
The game of the day was the 188-minute clash on Court One between Zachery Byng from Trinidad and Canada’s Xzavier Hastick which ended 7-5, 2-6, 6-3 in Byng’s favour.
Both players suffered the ignominy of failing to keep track of the score midway through the second set, causing a lengthy delay, much to the amusement of the spectators. Byng upcoming opponent, Esunge Ndumbe, proved too much for Barbadian Adam King with his strong service game and powerful returns.
Byng’s brother Sebastien also won on the day in straight sets 6-3, 6-3 over Canada’s Remi St-Laurent.
In the girls’ singles matches Barbadian Jolie Philips lost 1-6, 2-6 to Korea’s Dain Lee on Court two in the afternoon while Isabella Pisarczyk from the United States of America beat her Norwegian opponent Sara Rydholt 6-4, 7-5.
The round of 16 begins on Tuesday at 9 a.m.
Summarised Scores:
Kale Dalla Costa (TTO) defeated Philippe-Elliot Spencer Bigonese (CAN) 6-3, 6-0
Jacob Dubas (CAN) def. Leonardo Santoro Fergusson (GBR) 6-1, 6-3
Lucca Benoit (CAN) def. Edwar Alder (GBR) 6-2, 6-3
Lawrence Ivanow (CAN) def. Gijs Fidler (ARU) 6-1, 4-6, 6-4
