3 Bajans register wins at start of tennis competition

By Morissa Lindsay 

Three Barbadian players achieved success as Adam King, Xavier Peter-Gooding and Aidan Clarke, all won their respective singles matches on today’s opening day of the International Tennis Federation World Junior Competition being played at the National Tennis Centre. 

National junior tennis champion Adam King convincingly dismissed his opponent Jace Quashie of Trinidad and Tobago 6-2, 6-2 when they met on court one. The competitive King made light work of Quashie to advance into the round of 16 scheduled to be played tomorrow at the tennis centre. 

Peter-Gooding was also brilliant as he dug deep to come from a set down and emerge victorious 4-6, 6-1 and 6-1 against Giancarlo Rosario of Dominica. Rosario got the best out of Peter- Gooding who recognized his errors from the opening set and rectified them as quickly as possible to ensure he also advanced. 

The highlight of the day however for team Barbados was when Clarke fought to the very end and came out on top 6-7, 7-5, 7-5 against a familiar rival in Xzavier Hastick of Canada. It is familiar in the sense that Hastick, while representing Canada, resides in Barbados where he trains and attends school. 

This is the first occasion in a long time that Clarke has beaten Hastick, one of the top junior players on the island. That superb win should boost Clarke’s confidence going forward knowing that he has earned his first set of international match points at this level. 

Unfortunately, Jaden Chandler of Barbados was not as lucky as he lost 6-2, 6-2 to Jordan Papadopoulos of the United States of America (USA). Similarly, Kai Owen was defeated 6-3, 6-1 by Kristofer Brkic, also of the USA. 

Fellow Barbadian Neil King went down 6-2, 6-0 to Gijs Fidler of Aruba. Another Barbadian Luke Ollivierre was beaten 6-0, 6-2 by Easton Horricks of the USA. 

Canadian Lawrence Ivanow trounced Justin Atkins of Barbados 6-0, 6-0 as the international countries had a strong showing on the opening day of competition. 

The Bajan girls did not have the best of outings as Jolie Phillips went down 6-0, 6-0 to Rebecca Fielder and Shonte Sargeant despite showing great determination was unable to get past Tina Kintiroglou of the USA who won 6-2, 6-4 in a good showdown. morissalindsay@barbadostoday.bb