Venom survives scare to advance to BRTO semis

Mark Venom Griffith produced a comeback for the ages on Saturday night at the Wildey Gymnasium to defeat Emar Edwards and advance to the semifinals of the Barbados Road Tennis Open (BRTO).

In one of the best matches in recent years, Griffith, the defending champion, clawed his way back from a set down and saved a match point before eventually winning the hour and 37 minute contest 16-21, 25-23, 21-19.

While the match featured high quality play by both sides, it was also marred by several controversial calls utilizing the video replay system.

Griffith will meet Davien ForceRipe Taylor in Thursday night’s semifinals after Taylor disposed of Antonio Yearwood in straight sets 21-18, 21-12.

But the night belonged to Griffith, who was embraced by his father Mark Griffith Sr, who fell to the ground in the process, after Edwards sent his forehand shot long to end the match.

The portly Edwards had looked in prime position to upset the number one seed after turning a close 10-9 score in the first game to a 19-16 advantage.

He eventually closed out the first game when his opponent sent his forehand shot into the net and then followed up with another unforced error.

With the majority of the appreciative crowd at the Wildey Gymnasium backing Edwards, he quickly rushed out to a 7-1 lead in the second game as Venom uncharacteristically continued to commit several unforced errors.

But with the match looking all but over, Griffith mounted a fightback by taking the attack to his opponent to win eight of the next nine points to assume a 9-8 lead.

Edwards though, who was also guilty of playing unnecessary short balls, which gifted Griffith several points, regained his rhythm, winning a 26-ball rally to regain the lead at 10-9.

With Edwards leading 15-12, there was a long delay as officials used the video replay to determine who should be awarded a point, with both players stating their cases.

In the end, the point was awarded to Griffith and he won the next three points to lock the scores at 15.

And again with Edwards holding a 16-15 lead, officials made a controversial decision by ruling that the point would go to Griffith, even though from the video replay it appeared Edwards’ shot had landed in the court.

Edwards still remained on course to close out the match at 19-17, but Griffith won the next three points to take a 20-19 lead. However, he sent his backhand shot long to send the match to deuce.

There was silence in the Gymnasium when Edwards led 22-21, but a confident Griffith used his attack to good effect to save the match point before Edwards’ backhand sailed wide to give him the game.

In the third and decisive game, Edwards again jumped out to a big lead of 7-2, but again Griffith fought back to lock the score at 9.

Griffith then took control of the contest by attacking Edwards’ backhand, which allowed him a 14-10 advantage.

It seemed like it would be a comfortable victory for Griffith at 20-15, but Edwards rattled off four consecutive points to come within one point of deucing the game.

It was not to be, however, with the video replay showing that his forehand shot was well long.

Both of the women’s quarterfinal matches produced lopsided victories.

Marvalene Neblett dismissed Gail-Ann Edwards 21-18, 21-14, while number two seed Sheldene Walrond was brutal in ‘double sowing’ 13-year-old Kezia Blunt 21-9, 21-8.