… crowns Resaul champion of Safe Tournament

MINISTER of Culture, Youth and Sport Charles Ramson Jr reiterated his call for tennis to rise to the next level in Guyana on Monday night before crowning Heimraj Resaul as champion of the Safeway Tennis Tournament.

Minister Ramson had announced at the start of the competition early this month that his intention was to make tennis a core sport, which means that it would become a key priority area for the government.

At the closing ceremony, he said that with the sport’s new classification, it would be in line for better infrastructure and top tier training.

Vice-president of Guyana Tennis Association, Cristy Campbell, expressed gratitude to the minister and thanked him for his support.

She said that since the announcement three weeks ago, several sponsors have expressed interest in the sport.

Campbell also thanked ITF for sponsoring the tournament and congratulated the players, who she said played at a high level despite being displaced from training for many months due to the pandemic.

Coordinators Shelly Daly and Andre Lopes, “who both worked tirelessly to run a smooth tournament” and champion Resaul were also thanked by the GTA’s VP.

First Title

On Saturday in the semi-final of the all-male competition, 19-year-old Resaul had upset the number one seeded player Gavin Lewis to book his place in Monday’s final (postponed from Sunday evening because of rain).  In that clash, against the number two seeded Benjaton Osbourne, Resaul stormed to a 6-0, 6-1 victory.

Meanwhile in the consolation final, Ronald Murray defeated Javed Khan 6-2, 6-3.

The knockout tournament at the Le Resouvenir Tennis Court on the East Coast of Demerara started with 19 players.