TATT’s Easter Tennis Grand Prix…

By Sean Devers
GUYANA’S 15-year-old Gerald Scotland qualified for his first ITF main draw event, after defeating Tim Pasea (TT) 6/3, 4/6, 10/5. Scotland bounced back from being down 0/5 in the super tie break, before winning 10 consecutive points to win the match at the National Racquet Sports Centre in Tacarigua, Trinidad, on Saturday.

Scotland had defeated Yeshowah Campbell-Smith(TT) 6/3,6/0 to advance to the second round in the qualifying phase of the tournament, while Coach Andre Erskine lost 6/0,6/2 to the 2019 U35 champion Damien Applewaite of Barbados.

Coach Andre Erskine and his partner, Trinidadian Steffon Ramsingh lost in the quarterfinal of the men’s 35 doubles to the Number Two seeds of the tournament.

In the evening games, Thomas Chung (TT) defeated Navindra Arjune (GUY) 3/6,6/4, 11/9, and Jayden Mitchell (TT) defeated Denzel Luthers (GUY) 6/2,6/2 in round one qualifying.

According to Coach Erskine, the main draw starts today, and will conclude on Thursday, while the U-18s division will commence on Saturday, before the U-14s travel to Barbados.

“The tournament attracted players from Guyana, Trinidad, Australia, USA, Brazil, and Peru, among other countries, and is of a very high standard. The sports facilities here (T&T) are of international standard, and this tennis facility in Tacarigua is amazing.

The players have come to the realisation of how far behind Guyana’s tennis is. However, despite the fact that we are lacking the much-needed facilities and court time, it’s amazing to see our players making such an impact,” said Coach Erskine, whose Tennis Club is located in the village of Diamond, on the East Bank of Demerara.