Downes, Panday crowned Men’s Doubles Champions

GBTI Independence Golden Jubilee Open…

new combination of Anthony Downes and Harry Panday on Monday put in an excellent performance to be crowned the Men’s Open Doubles champion of the Guana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) Jubilee tournament.

Played at the GBTI Recreational Facility at Bel Air, the newly form duo turn in a sterling performance over Leyland Leacock and Nicholas Fenty to win in two sets 6/1 7/5.

Starting as favourite, the duo of Downes and Panday won the toss and opt to serve, taking a 1-0 lead. It was Leacock’s turn to serve at 0-1 and he and Fenty managed to attain a 40-0 lead in the game, but Downes/Panday shocked the pair by bringing the game to deuce and broke their serve to secure the break in set at 2-0. The eventual champs again frustrated the Leacock/Fenty pair by holding service after being at a 0-40 deficit, dominating the set at 3-0.

The match saw Leyland/Fenty rose to secure their first game of the set after facing two grueling deuce points. However, it was their only point for that set as Downes/Panday again held serve as their rivals pushed them to a triple deuce game to lead at 4-1. The set soon ended at 6-1.

The second set was no walk over as the pair of Leyland/Fenty fought hard to force a third set, but unfortunately this was not to be.

Leacock/Fenty won the first point in the second set improved in the second set, by making a defining statement after leading at 40-0. Downes/Panday held serve to even games at 1-1 due to two back to back aces on their rivals. The break in set was earned by Leacock/Fenty as they held serve at 2-1. Afterwards, Downes/Panday fought to once again even the score at 2-2 by holding serve. As the match intensified, Fenty served for his team and came awfully close to losing his service at 15-40, but the pair’s tactics worked in their favor by bringing the game to deuce and ultimately holding serve.

The game was soon tied at 3-3 as both pairs fought tireless to move ahead, but Leacock/Fenty reclaimed the lead at 4-3 after coming treading dangerously close to a deuce point at 30-40. At 4-3, Downes/Panday service was broken, increasing Leacock/Fenty’s lead to 5-3. However, that was to be Leycock and Fenty’s final point of the match as Downes/ Panday won three successive points to win the title.