GSA/GT&T National Senior C/ships
WORLD-rated Nicolette Fernandes, along with Alex Arjoon, failed in their attempt to stop the top seeds from advancing to the men’s final of the Guyana Squash Association/GT&T-sponsored National Senior Championships. In the semi-final round which was contested on Friday evening at the Georgetown Club courts, Fernandes, rated 101 by the Women’s International Squash Players Association (WISPA) and who was allowed to contest the men’s championships for the second consecutive year, went down to former national men’s champion Regan Pollard, while Arjoon lost to defending champion Kristian Jeffrey.

Pollard defeated Fernandes 11-4, 5-11, 11-4, 11-8 while Jeffrey beat Arjoon 11-1, 11-13, 11-5, 11-8.

Pollard and Jeffrey were down to contest the men’s final last evening at the same venue.

Fernandes, however, prevailed in her ladies’ semi-final against Kayla Jeffrey, winning 11-8, 11-6, 11-4 and was to have met Kayla’s sibling, Keisha, in the final last evening.

Keisha beat Ashley Khalil 11-6, 11-7, 8-11, 11-7 in their semi-final fixture.

According to reports, the semi-final round lived up to expectations with a number of high quality matches which had the crowd at the edge of their seats.

First it was Arjoon who surprised defending champion Kristian Jeffrey with his tactics of slowing up the game with several lobs and floated drives.

After Jeffrey completely dominated the first game, this change of tactics by Arjoon broke Jeffrey’s rhythm and he made numerous unforced errors which allowed Arjoon to steal the second game.

But in the end Jeffrey’s superior experience and fitness saw him through to his second consecutive senior final. In the other semifinal the experienced, multiple, former champion Regan Pollard ended Nicolette Fernandes’ hopes of featuring in both finals.

He completed the feat by using his power to force Fernandes on the defensive and the pace of his shots gave her little time to play accurate shots.

In other results from Friday night’s matches, Victoria Arjoon defeated Chantelle Fernandes 4-11, 9-11, 11-4, 11-6, 11-6 and Mary Fung-A-Fat beat Daina King 11-5, 11-9, 12-10 in the ladies’ consolation semi-final while in the men’s semi-final consolation match, Raphael deGroot defeated Jerazeno Bell 13-11, 10-12, 11-3, 11-5 and Robert Fernandes beat Deje Dias 3-11, 14-12, 11-6, 11-9.