The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

After watching the thrilling victory of the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association boys’ team on Monday, the girls prevailed with a 2-1 decision over Suriname yesterday at the International Tennis Federation’s 2022 North Central American and Caribbean Pre-Qualifying World Junior tennis tournament.

Coming off a day’s rest on Monday as they watched the boys’ team secure a 3-0 sweep over Honduras, the girls took to the courts on Tuesday in Santa Tecla, El Salvador in their first match in Group C of the under-14 tournament that featured two singles and a doubles per match.

The boys’ team, with the day off, watched as Sarai Clarke pulled off a 6-1, 6-2 win over Faith Bab in one hour and 30 minutes in the first match. But top seed Breann Ferguson was not as successful, falling 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 in a gruelling 1hr:54min match to Sarah Marhe.

With the tie scored tied at 1-1, it came down to the exciting doubles competition and the duo of Clarke and Ferguson needed just 1hr:92 for a 6-2, 6-1 win over Bab and Marhe to seal the deal.

Team coach Paula Whitfield, who also has the use of Rachel Thompson on the team, was quite thrilled by the performances of Clarke and Ferguson in the series of matches they played.

“We had a great day today,” Whitfield said. “In the first match, Sarai Clarke had a pretty good match. She won easily and she felt great about her match. In the second match, our number one seed Breann Ferguson had a very tough match. She fought very hard in a three-setter. “After that, we had to really fight in the doubles, so we came out very strong. We got the win for today.”

BLTA president Perry Newton had nothing but praise for the team. “Whenever we send a team we always expect the players to do well. Our players are all talented and have the potential to be the top finishers,” he said. “ It was good to hear that the girls were able to dig deep and pull off the doubles win.

“My hope is that they remain focused and continue with all their heart. Representing your country is one of the greatest privileges and not everyone has that opportunity.”

Newton said the BLTA is very proud of the teams and look forward to their continued success.

The key, he said. is for them to take it one day at a time and face the challenge of that day.

Both the boys and girls teams will be back on the court today. While the boys will return after a day’s rest to take on Barbados, the girls will face Costa Rica.

If successful, the two teams will advance as the top seeds out of group C into the playoffs, scheduled to start on Thursday.

The boys’ team, coached by Bradley Bain, consisted of William McCartney, Jackson Mactaggart and Grand Bahamian Jerald Carroll. Both McCartney and Mactaggart won their singles matches, while Mactaggart and Carroll pulled off the doubles in their opening match against Honduras.

The winner of the tournament will advance to the next round in Mexico in May where they get a chance to play against the United States, Mexico and Canada for two qualifying spots to play in the World Championships for Under- 14s in Europe.