ACTION in the Guyana Lawn Tennis Association (GTA)-organised Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI)-sponsored 2012 Tennis Open tournament got under way at the Bank’s Recreational Centre in Bel Air Park with a number of exciting matches. In the opening match Krystal Sukra and Nicola Ramdyhan set the tone for the tournament with some high quality tennis with Sukra going for her shots against the excellent retrieving ability of Ramdyhan.
Both players, who are part of the junior development programme, played aggressively and it ended with Sukra prevailing in straight sets 6-3, 6-4 as she held her nerve to stave off a comeback by Ramdydan who broke serve at 3-5 in the second set.
In a Men’s singles first-round encounter Oswin Coggins and Kester Abrams had their own battle, with Coggins’ serve and Abrams’ groundstrokes being their main weapons.
Abrams took the first set 6-4 before Coggins stormed back to take the remaining two sets 6-3, 6-3 to book his place in the second round.
Nomenchandra Persaud, a newcomer to the sport put on a brave effort as he nearly upstaged Benedict Sukra who played conservatively and eventually prevailed 6-4, 6-4, whilst Viraj Jagdeo and Andre Lopes posted easy victories in their encounters with Mindat Lallbeharry and Dillon Pyle respectively.
The tournament will continue with matches on a daily basis from 17:00hrs at the same venue and will feature an action-packed weekend as the top players in the country match skills for the first time this year.
Results for Thursday’s opening action are as follows: Ladies Singles Krystal Sukra defeated Nicola Ramdhyan 6-3, 6-4.
Men’s Singles Oswin Coggins beat Kester Abrams 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, Benedict Sukra stopped Nomechandra Persaud 6-4, 6-4, Viraj Jagdeo thrashed Mindat Lallbeharry 6-1, 6-0 and Andre Lopes crushed Dillon Pyle 6-0 6-0.