Defending champions advanced to BRTO semis

Defending men’s champion Shakeem Nurse and 2025 ladies’ queen Sheldene Waldrond booked their places in Wednesday’s semifinals of the Barbados Road Tennis Open, with convincing quarterfinal victories at Dover on Monday.

Despite rain delays both players were in commanding form advancing from the quarterfinals with straight-sets wins.

Nurse breezed past Darius Barruckus Gaskin inside 25 minutes, on the way to a 21-12, 21-10 straight sets victory and spot in the penultimate round, which was scheduled for the Wildey Gymnasium.

Three time BRTO Champion and last year’s losing men’s finalist, Mark

Venom Griffith also took 25 minutes to record an equally comfortable

21-10, 21-13 straight sets victory over Adrian Scott 

Number three seed Dario Hinds dropped a set against Shawn Spencer as his match-up went the distance, but his class and fitness shone through as he recorded a 19-21, 21-12, 21-9 win.

The semifinal list was completed by Davien Force Ripe Taylor, who was in top form as he beat Stephen Payne 21-18, 21-12, in an authoritative display of power hitting that wowed the crowd.

In Wednesday’s semis, Griffith will play Taylor, while Hinds faces Nurse.

In ladies action teenager Kezia Blunt registered the biggest upset of

the night, as she defeated her mother Maudlyn Blunt in straight sets 21-18,

21-19, while defending champion Sheldene Walrond was composed and workmanlike, as she sauntered past Maria Flowers Cumberbatch 21-14,

21-12.

Former champion Kim Holder never looked like losing against Gale-Ann Edwards, as she registered a comfortable 21-14, 21-15 victory in 27 minutes, while Rachel Smith also outclassed Denise Collymore 21-11, 21-12, to book a spot in yet another major semifinal.

In Wednesday’s women’s semis, Smith will play Waldron in a repeat of last year’s final, while Holder opposes Blunt.

In the juniors category Amir Yearwood-Gibson registered a 21-18, 24-26,

21-18 victory over Nathan Stuart, Jacoby Ellis defeated Ky-mani Fedee

21-7 , 21-16, Ryan Hunte got the better of Kelanni Ellis 21-18, 21-19 and

Ranacko Beckles stopped Nolan Stuart 21-15 , 21-14.

(KH/PR)