The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

IN a rematch from last year, top seeded players Simone Pratt and Kerrie Cartwright are slated to clash once again in the final of the women’s singles in the Giorgio Baldacci Open Challenge at the National Tennis Center today.

The two young rising stars are expected to square off immediately following the men’s semifinals that will feature two Davis Cuppers from Grand Bahama against the two hottest players on the local scene in Kevin Major Jr and Philip Major Jr. The action is scheduled to begin at 9 am.

Pratt held off

Russell 7-6 (5), 6-2

In an all-Grand Bahama showdown in one half of the women’s semifinals, No.4 seed Larikah Russell, in her return to action after a year’s absence due to injury, fell behind 4-1 and 5-2 in the first set, only to rally to force the tie breaker in the first set.

Simone Pratt, the 16-year-old No.1 seed, eventually won the first set.

But history repeated itself as she opened another 4-1 and 5-2 lead in the second set. Only this time, Pratt was able to close the door to seal the victory and return to the final, much to the delight of her cheering squad on the sidelines.

“It was good. This is a great tournament. Everyone’s playing great,” Pratt said. “She played a great match and I played great as well. I had some chances in the first set, but I got a little nervous and I couldn’t get it together until the end. In the second set, I tried my best to finish it off because I didn’t want to go through what I did in the first set.”

Now she’s looking ahead to the final against Cartwright.

“I’m just going to go out there and play my best. I know she’s going to play her best too,” Pratt said. “May the best player win.”

Cartwright prevailed over

Danielle Thompson 6-3, 6-12

In what turned out to be a much shorter match than the other semis, Kerrie Cartwright proved why she’s the No.2 seed as she went up a couple breaks at 3-2 and 5-2 to hold in the first set and came back on breaks at 4-1 and 5-2 in the second set to secure the win.

“I was pretty shaky in the beginning, but I felt like I did pretty good overall,” Cartwright said. “I want to get much better like I was earlier in the year. In the summer, I had to finish my classes for school and there wasn’t that many players playing in Texas, but I’m trying to get better before I go to school at Florida State.”

No doubt, after losing to Pratt last year, Cartwright is coming out for vengeance today.

“I’m just going to put that ball on the court. I’m going to do my best and play my game,” said Cartwright, who clearly remembers her only defeat to Pratt. “I hope I do better this year. But she’s a really good player, so I know I have to play better than I did last year.”

Thompson knew going into the semis that she had a formidable foe in Cartwright.

“I was just expecting to play my best and don’t give up,” Thompson said. “I was really surprised that I was getting balls in and I was right there with her. I feel I’ve improved a whole lot since leaving the Bahamas and going off to school. She just played a lot better than I did today.”

Timothy Neilly stunned top seed Marvin Rolle 6-4, 5-7, 7-5

In what turned out to be a gruelling men’s quarterfinal, unseeded Davis Cup player Timothy Neilly, who was a late entry into the tournament, came from a 4-1 deficit in the third and final set to break top seed Marvin Rolle to trail 4-2. He broke again at 5-3, but finished off the match as he held and broke Rolle for the upset.

Neither players offered any comments after the match. While Rolle was sent packing, Neilly is now gearing up for his semifinal match 9am today against Philip Major Jr.

Philip Major Jr knocked off Jamal Adderley 6-2, 7-6 (5)

In another upset, Major Jr overcame a lapse in the second set to clinch his berth in the semis. “It was pretty good. I had a pretty good start, leading 3-0 in the second set,” Major Jr said.

“We had a little problem after that, but as the set went on, the match got more exciting. I actually should have won 6-3 instead of 7-6, but nevertheless, I pulled it off.”

As he looks ahead to his semis match against Neilly, Major Jr said he will definitely have to be focused from start to finish. “I have to play a lot better, but I know my fitness is better so I can do well,” he said. “I’m in better shape this year, so if I play the way I played today or even better, I know I can pull it off.”

Devin Mullings won over Shaquille Taylor in identical scores of 6-1, 6-1

In his return to action after taking about six months off to undergo and recover from his hip surgery, No.2 seed Devin Munnings looked as if he didn’t skip a beat in matching set scores against Shaquille Taylor.

“It went pretty well, despite the windy conditions and having to play out there on court four where the sun is right on your face,” Mullings said. “But I played fairly good and competed well. Shaquille has improved a lot from when I last saw him. But it’s good to be back on the court and competing again after not competing for so long. I’m glad to be back and just about 100 per cent.”

In his semis against Kevin Major Jr, Mullings feels he will get the best test to see where his game is at right now.

“Kevin is hitting the ball very well, so I think its going to be a fun match,” Mullings said. “I look forward to it.”

Kevin Major Jr had an easy sweep over Jonathan Taylor 6-0, 6-0

In what turned out to be a lopsided match, Major Jr didn’t allow Taylor, his former junior rival, to get in any type of groove.

“I don’t want to sound cocky or anything, but I didn’t expect it to be like this,” Major Jr said. “I played Justin Lunn, a really good player, yesterday (Wednesday) and I was able to win in three. I lost the first set and was down 0-3, but I was able to come back to win, so that was pretty big for me. Coming into this match, I had a lot of confidence and I just went out there and played a routine match.”

Even though he’s going up against Mullings, who has not lost a December tournament since the BLTA initiated it, Major Jr said he firmly believes that he belongs in the field of elite players in the country and he will get a chance to display that in this tournament.

Also yesterday, doubles matches were played.

In the men’s open doubles semis, Grand Bahamian brothers Rasheed and Rodney Carey Jr def. Robert Smith and William ‘JJ’ Fountain 6-3, 6-4, while Philip Major and Ceron Rolle got a walk/over win against Jamaal Adderley and Timothy Neilly.

In the women’s open doubles semis, No.3 seed Danielle Thompson and Erin Strachan also got a walk/over win against the top seeded team of Larikah Russell and Nikkita Fountain.

Today’s matches are as follows:

9am - Men’s open singles semifinals - Timothy Neilly vs Philip Major Jr and Devin Mullings vs Kevin Major Jr.

Not before 10am - Women’s open singles final - Kerrie Cartwright vs Simone Pratt.

Not before 3pm - Men’s open doubles final - Rodney and Rasheed Carey vs Philip Major and Cerone Rolle.

Not before 3pm - Women’s open doubles final - Kerrie Cartwright and Simone Pratt vs Danielle Thompson and Erin Strachan.

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