Youngster Mosai Williams announced his stage on the road tennis scene with a scintillating performance in the opening round of the 2023 Barbados Road Tennis Open.
Playing in the penultimate match at the Belfield Courts on Monday night, Williams unleashed a barrage of shots against veteran player Merlon Edwards on his way to a 21-10, 19-21, 21-9 win.
After easily wrapping up the first game, Williams encountered a much more competitive Edwards in the ensuing game, with the two engaging in long rallies which drew support from the appreciative crowd on hand.
Edwards was content to defend against his younger, more attacking opponent, and wait for him to commit errors.
That strategy allowed him to open a three-point lead (19-16) and despite surviving some nervous moments from Williams, he eventually closed out the game 21-19, to tie it at 1-1.
Williams jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the third and decisive game, before Edwards clawed his way back to tie it at 3-3.
But from a score of 5-5 Williams completely took over.
Opting to run around his backhand to play his forehand, Williams blasted ball after ball past his bemused opponent.
It allowed him to extend his lead to 10-6 before a series of unforced errors from Edwards put him in 7-15 hole.
Another ferocious forehand winner from Williams extended his lead to 17-8 and he went on to hand Edwards a ‘sow’ for good measure.
In the night’s final match, veteran Adrian ‘Dan’ Skeete was made to go the distance against Anthony Harris.
After easily winning the first game 21-10, most spectators would have been expecting Skeete to complete a comfortable straight sets victory.
However, that was not to be, as Harris used his forehand to good effect to control the contest, as he regularly left Skeete going in the wrong direction.
He established a 19-14 lead in the second game, and despite Skeete’s comeback effort, Harris eventually won 21-19.
The third game was a close contest in the initial stages, with Skeete holding a slim 15-14 lead heading into the homestretch.
But Harris failed to get another point, with Skeete winning six straight points to end the match.
In other results Corey Mayers defeated Gregory Hinds 21-8, 21-15, Anderson Harris dismissed Michael Rock 15-21, 21-11, 21-9, Christopher Reece rolled over Jesse Haynes 21-13, 21-19, Shammon Weekes crushed Tyrone Evelyn 21-9, 21-8 and Shaquan Henry won by default over Darion Millar.
