The Guyana Tennis Association’s (GTA) junior team that participated in the just concluded International Tennis Federation (ITF) sanctioned Tobago Tennis Festival returned home with mixed fortunes, but the local players said they have gained valuable experience that will serve them well in the future.
According to a GTA release, Kalyca Fraser was able to make it deepest into the draws in the U14 Girls category. After a close call in the qualifying matches with a loss of 1-4, 2-4 to Lilly Lancer and a close match against Yen Lee that went to a tiebreaker in the deciding set but won 0-4, 4-0, 7-10.
Fraser took revenge on Lancer after knocking her out in the main draw, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 but lost in the semifinals against Megan William 6-0, 6-0. Fraser said that it was a good experience and she will fight harder in future matches.
One of Guyana’s top junior players, Daniel Lopes, made his first main draw of the ITF U18 tournament but fell to Che Andrews from Trinidad and Tobago in the first round at 6-1-6-2.
After defeating Flynn Von Waldau 6-0, 6-0. He said, “It was a different experience making my first U18 main draw but it was a good experience to learn from. Obviously, in retrospect I think of things I could have done differently but my preparation helped me to execute my game plan and I was excited making my first U18 main draw”
On the fourth try in the ITF circuit Nicola Ramdyhan was able to make it into the second round after she dismantled Carissa Rodulfo of Trinidad 6-3, 6-0. She was then outmatched in the second round by the 5th seed, Sabinda Dadaciu from the USA with a score of 6-1, 6-1.
She felt that she had a better result in this tournament because “I was motivated to make it deeper into the draws. I think my foot work is what caused my defeat in the match among other things I need to work on. The experience and confidence gained will help me in October when I play in the AInter Guiana Games”.
Ramdyhan’s fellow U18 teammate, Aretta Dey had a tougher battle playing the 4th seed from Barbados, Kiana Marshall. Marshall was an old rival from her U14 days.
The U14 Boys did not fare so well after top players Jordan Beaton lost to Aidan Bousquet 6-4, 6-2, Keenan Persaud lost to Aron Fields 6-1, 6-2, Hemraj Resaul lost to Aidan Carter 6-0, 6-2 and Mark McDonald and Ariel Khan losing in the consolation draw.