Jamal Alexis lost the singles final to Mackai Whitter of Bermuda but both players later combined to win the doubles as the JITIC Under-14 Centro American Caribbean tournament came to an end yesterday at the National Racquet Centre in Tacarigua.
Alexis put up a good fight in the boys’ singles final of the second draw but Whitter took the first set 6-3. The second set was much closer but the Bermudan edged out his opponent 7-5 in a close match.
Both singles finalists would later partner to beat the Byng brothers in the doubles final of the second draw. Alexis and Whitter powered past Sebastien and Zachery Byng in straight sets 6-4, 6-1.
Alexis was one of only four T&T players to feature on the final day of the competition. The local pair of Jordane Dookie and Charlotte Ready went down 6-4, 6-1 in the consolation doubles final of the main draw against Alexa Lerebours and Sara Loaiza.
Meanwhile, T&T’s Cameron Wong combined with Antigua’s Brasha Dyer as both lost to Abby Candelier of Dominica and Sibley Charles of Antigua. They went down in straight sets 6-2, 6-2 in the girls’ consolation final of the main draw.
Beckham Sylvester also went under in the doubles, having partnered with Dentry Mortimer from the Bahamas. The Barbadian team of Nathaniel Gilkes and Adam King was victorious in the consolation final of the boys’ doubles second draw.
Among the winners in the main draw was Mexico’s Karen Verduzco, who won the girls’ singles final against Nicole Alfaro from Costa Rica. Verduzco cruised to a 6-3 first set win but was pushed hard in the second set and escaped with a 7-5 victory.
In the girls’ doubles final of the main draw, Alfaro and Verduzco combined to pip the Dominica pair of Rosario Elmudesi and Rocio Espinal 6-1, 6-4.
In the girls’ singles final of the second draw, Melena Del Olmo, of the United States Virgin Islands, had to battle hard to beat Jamaican Alyssa James 7-5, 5-7, 10-8.
The extravagant summer of tennis continues this weekend with the Sub Region Under-16 tournament from July 11-14 and the Under-12 Team Championships Sub Region 4 tournament starting next week Monday.