Leacock/Lopes make it into men’s doubles quarterfinals

IT WAS youth over experience as Daniel Lopes and Leyland Leacock took down Andre Lopes and Sandeep Chand in a round of 16 match in the Men’s doubles of the GBTI Open tennis tournament, which concluded its second day of play at the courts of the GBTI Sports Club, in Bel Air.
Daniel’s big serving raddled the opponents, as the teams traded games until the set was up 5-all. Lopes and Chand had a hard time holding their own serve, handing the set 7-5 to Daniel and Leacock.
Lopes and Chand adjusted their defence and game strategy, but still saw the second set go 6-2 in Lopes and Leacock’s favour. A finalist from last year’s tournament, when he partnered with Nicholas Fenty, Leacock is trying to see if he can battle his way to another final.
Last year’s Men’s doubles champion, Anthony Downes, who had partnered Harry Panday for the win, this year teamed up with Jason Andrews and the pair moved on after they received a walkover from Jamal Goodluck and Darren King.
In another Men’s double match, the junior pair of Vadeanand Resaul and Adesh Khayyam showed the character of future champions, as they fought with intensity for every point, against Albert Razick and his son Daniel Razick.
However Resaul and Khayyam still went under 4-6, 1-6, as the tactical strength of their opponents overpowered them.
In the Men’s Open, Andrews ousted Kester Abrams 6-3, 6-3. Abrams had several moments to tip the momentum in the match, creating good angles and guiding several passing winners, but he just kept racking up errors.
Andrews will face Khwan Rondney next in the round 16, with both men hoping to make their first GBTI Men’s Open quarterfinal.
Meanwhile, on the distaff side, Kalyca Fraser and Sarah Klautky got past their semi-final matches to set up their place in the Girls’ final, while in the Ladies’ doubles they will go from being adversaries to partners, as they disposed of Kury Cobham and Grace McCalman 6-4, 6-2.
In the Girls’ semifinals Fraser overpowered Alana Chung’s strong backhands to win 6-3, 6-2, while Klautky got the better of Nathalie Ramdyhan, 6-2, 3-6, 10-8.
In other matches of the day:
Boys’ round of 32
Ridhwaan Kasim fell against Brazilian Alexandre DeAlmedia 6-2, 6-0.
Ravin Ramprasad achieved a 6-2, 3-6, 10-8 win against Tai Downes.
Khalid Gobin outplayed Adesh Khayyam 7-5, 6-1..
Akil Brown upset Wayne Baker 6-4, 1-6, 11-9.
Shimron Lewis gained a walkover against Daniel Kellman.
Nigel Lowe was too much for Ariel Khan, defeating him 6-1, 6-0.