THIRTEEN-year-old Keenan Persaud won a fierce challenge from 12-year-old Joshua Kalekyezi in the Boys Under-14 quarter finals to win a tight three-setter 2-4, 5-3, 3-10 and to book his place in the semis against 13-year-old Mark McDonald as the Bakewell junior tennis championships continued. In the first set, Joshua showed great composure and maturity in setting up his service game-points with winners. But in the second set, when the confident Kalekyezi quickly reached 3-1, Persaud drew on his experience and slowed down the pace of the game to break Kalekyezi and to turn things around and break and hold serve twice to cop the second set.
In the super tie-break third set, both players were consistent in constructing great points on serve up to 3-3 until Persaud took his game up a notch and broke Kalekyezi to reach 4-3. It was then all over for Kalekyezi who seemed not to be able to bounce back to reclaim more points.
In the Boys U-12s semi-final, Joshua Kalekyezi showed no mercy for his nine-year-old brother Jeremiah as he demonstrated his experience in a match that was not expected to be entertaining.
Joshua kicked into gear unleashing serves that were very difficult to return by his little brother as he clinched the first set 4-0. In the second set Jeremiah held serve only once while going after his brother in long rallies but he eventually lost the set and match to his older brother at 4-1.
In the other Boys U-14 quarter-final, Heimraj Resaul easily defeated Ariel Khan 4-0, 4-0 to book his place in the Boys U-14 semis for veterans – another thrilling encounter with Jordan Beaton.
In the Boys U-18 quarterfinals, the Brazilian Alexander Almeida eventually overcame Keenan Persaud in a three-setter 1-6, 6-2, 3-10. Heimraj Resaul defeated Judah Stephney 6-1, 6-2.
In the Girls U12 Semis, Sarah Klautky defeated Atouria Branche 4-0,4-0 and Nathalie Ramdyhan defeated Alana Chung 5-4(7-5), 5-4(11-9).
In the Girls U-14 Semis Afruica Gentle whipped Kalyca Fraser 4-2, 4-1 and Shivani Persaud trounced Sarah Klautky 4-0,4-1.
In the Girls U-18 Aretta Dey received a walkover from Nathalie Ramdyhan to book her place in the final against the talented 14-year-old Afruica Gentle who overwhelmed Shivani Persaud 7-5, 7-6(7-5).
Matches were scheduled to continue yesterday at the President’s College tennis courts from 10:00hrs and should have concluded at 14:00hrs.