The invincible Julian ‘Michael Jackson’ White and equally indomitable Kim Holder should be making solid deposits to their BNB accounts after competing last night in another BNB Racquets Of Fire Road Tennis finals at the Belfield courts.
White and Holder have reached each finals with consummate ease to almost guarantee appearances and big pay days in all road tennis competitions in the island.
On Saturday night Holder qualified from the round robin stage by defeating the other three female entrants – Suzanne Scantlebury, Margo Holder and Estherphene Holder to set up a finals clash with Scantlebury.
During the prelims Holder showed her class with the dismissal of Scantlebury who found time to applaud some of the champion’s shots. Holder qualified unbeaten with a demolition of her namesake Margo, 21-4.
The ladies are battling for a top prize of $1 000 and a trophy, with the second-placed competitor taking home $500.
A first-placed prize of $300 and a trophy is at stake in the juniors where Terry Duncan was to meet Tre Stanford. Stanford had beaten Ezekeil Ward 21-7, while Duncan had pipped Devon Cave 21-19.
Last year’s men’s finals saw the return of Anthony ‘Ears’ Mitchell who had responded to the call for someone to dethrone White.
Unfortunately, White’s only focus was on the escalating numbers from his increasing earnings. He had qualified for the finals, already boasting winnings of $2 200 as each three preliminary nights had offered prizes of $1000, $400 and $200.
If White looked good in retaining the title last year, he looked awesome in smashing his way into last night’s finals with a 21-12, 21-13, dismissal of the unsually subdued Alan Davidson.
White showed greater movement along the baseline and it was hard to determine any areas that he had not enhanced, as the only time that Davidson matched the king was when the official said ‘love all’ at the start of each set.
Mitchell was given a tougher time in his semis when the ever-improving Curtis Jones offered a serious challenge before folding, 15-21, 19-21, with the large crowd of spectators getting agitated over some critical calls. The match was entertaining with each player smashing and countering with great skill.
However, Jones can only blame himself for failing to carry the contest to the decider as he squandered a four-point lead 18-14, to see Mitchell storming back to lock the scores, 19-all, and take the game and set up another showdown with ‘Michael Jackson’ White, the king of popping road tennis.
(KB)