Rising tennis talent Abba Campbell-Smith has confirmed herself as one of six female players who will represent T&T at the ITF/COTECC Under-12 Development Tournaments at the National Racquet Centre in Orange Grove, Tacarigua from July 8-15.
Second-ranked Campbell-Smith went into Sunday's final day of the T&T Tennis Association's Trials already assured of a spot, with the top three players in each group earning places on the team. However, she sealed her spot at the top of Group 2 by whipping Karissa Mohammed on court six, 4-0, 4-0.
Mohammed, the daughter of former national standout Shenelle Mohammed, still secured the third spot in the group for a place on the national team, while the second place went to Cyra Ramcharan who defeated Keyah Roberts in straight sets, 4-0, 4-1.
In Group 1, Makeda Bain, Cherdine Sylvester and Suri Ann Ramcharan are the ones moving on to the tournament.
Unbeaten Bain completed her campaign with a walk-over win over Samiyah Mohammed for the top spot, while Sylvester, who lost to her (Bain) in her opening match of the group, got revenge over Suri Ann Mohammed, 4-0, 4-1, for the runner-up position in the group. Suri Ann took third place.
Among the boys, Jacob Jacelon, who led Group 1 up to Saturday afternoon, confirmed his spot on the team as the second-place finisher, courtesy of a flawless 4-0, 4-0 victory over Abhishek Ramdeen.
He surrendered the winning spot in the group to Josiah Hills, who was also victorious yesterday.
Hills, the top-ranked player in the group, hardly broke a sweat in disposing of Ryan Steuart, 4-0, 4-0, and then Jacelon 4-2, 4-0 on court five. Oliver Harragin completed the top three players in group 1 with a 4-2, 4-2 victory over sixth-seeded Novak Malcolm on court five.
Meanwhile, in the other group, (Group 2), Jack Brown led the trio of qualifiers by beating Sanjay Ramcharita 4-1, 4-0, while second and third Christopher Khan and Sebastian Plimmer prevailed over Jaysean Wells 1-4, 4-0, 10-7 and Justin Duncan, 4-2, 4-0.
