LEYLAND Leacock and Godfrey Lowden fashioned similar victories as they took the titles in the Men’s Over-35 and Over-45 categories respectively in straight sets when the tournament continued over the weekend at the GBTI courts in Bel Air, Georgetown.
Leacock’s win over his older opponent Andre Lopes was, however, a much closer affair as both players displayed grit in trying to outlast each other in lengthy rallies, instead of pushing for outright winners.

The first set went to a tiebreak where Lopes committed several costly forehand errors which allowed Leacock to win 7-3..Leacock served consistently and though surprised by the occasional winner from Lopes was able to win the title in straight sets 7-6(7/3), 6-4.
Both players are in line to capture two medals as they are competing in Doubles final as well.
In the Men’s 45 final, Alexley Almeida’s streak of coming back from a set down was halted by Berbician Godfrey Lowden who completed a straight-sets win, but not without some drama at the end.

In the first set Lowden, who likes a fast-paced game, steamrolled Almeida 6-1, as the latter tried unsuccessfully to match his opponent.
In the second set, Almeida threatened to make it a 3-set affair yet again as he slowed the pace and took the set to a tie-break. Leading 8-7 with set point, he suffered a dubious call, lost his composure and the set eventually at 11-9. It was a deserving win for Lowden who has been a stalwart over the years and still has the game and fitness to take on all players.
In the Boys’ 18 category, the expected showdown between top players Heimraj Resaul and Jordan Beaton did not materialise after Resaul had to forfeit due to an injury.
Jordan who benefited from the walkover took full advantage of the opportunity of being in the final and completed a 6-2, 6-1 win to take home the title over Joshua Kalekyezi who was also debuting in the 18’s final.

Kalekyezi, who is only 14 years old and stands over 6 feet, originally lived in Uganda and he is expected to be a top player in the junior ranks for years to come. His tennis has come on significantly over the last year as he is already challenging his older counterparts with his attractive and solid game.
In the Girls’ 18, top seed Kalyca Fraser proved to be too good for Sarah Klautky whom she crushed in straight sets 6-1, 6-1. Fraser is one of several promising junior players namely Klautky, Alana Chung, Nathalie Ramdyhan, Ciara Pooran and Afruica Gentle, who have all held their own in the tournament over the past two weeks. Fraser had wins over Sekai Jones and Alana Chung in the earlier rounds whilst Klautky took care of Margaret Subryan in the first round and edged Nathalie Ramdyhan in the semi-finals.

In Men’s 35 Doubles action Andre Lopes/Sandeep Chand all but clinched the title with their third victory in the round-robin format, when they overcame the first-time pairing of veterans Godfrey Lowden/Ronald Murray 6-1, 6-3. Lopes/Chand played their best match of the tournament with consistent serving and strong net play and never allowed Lowden/Murray to gain any momentum.
In other matches played Afruica Gentle/Christy Campbell booked a place in the Ladies’ Doubles final with a comfortable 6-1, 6-0 victory over Kalyca Fraser/Sarah Klautky and will face Shelly Ramdyhan/Fiona Bushell.