Tennis Inter Guiana Games, Cayenne 2016
By Delvon Mc Ewan in Cayenne
Alia Koorndijkin
After dropping their first three games on the opening morning of the Tennis Inter Guiana Games (IGG), Guyana clawed their way back with several wins which saw them levelled with their rivals Suriname at the League Centre in Cayenne French Guiana by press time.
In a superb display Ciara Pooran won Guyana’s first game 6-0, 6-1 over her Dutch counterpart Amaris Gregory in the girls under 14 category.
Her patience and her ability to utilize both the backhand and the forehand upon returns gave her the advantage over her opponents. She also worked a match winning tactics by hitting the ball around the court in an effort to get her opponent tired while she preserved her energy.
The win gave Guyana momentum and thereafter Jordan Beaton won against Giordi Samson 6-1 in two sets in the boys under 14, under 18 competitor Afruica Gentle, who is Guyana number one rated junior female player claimed victory by 6-1 margins in two sets while by midafternoon Sarah Klautky had secured Guyana’s fourth win with a 6-0 6-1 drubbing of Surinamese Alia Koorndijk.
But the Dutch never gave up the fight as Glen Mannes and the very petite Shane Hermelijn gained victories over Mark McDonald and Vadeanand Resaul in the respective under-18 and under-12 to take Suriname up by one game 5-4. Then it soon became 6-4 as Kalycer Fraser surrendered to Jill Ma A Jang 6-4, 6-2.
Subsequently the eventful seesaw day continued as the senior of the Kalekyezi brothers, Joshua, in the longest singles match of the day which lasted 50 minutes defeated Juwell Ritfeld 6-4, 6-3 in two hard fought sets. While Guyana’s number three ranked female Nicola Ramdyhan level the score with a win in the final singles match of the day. So neighbours Guyana and Suriname ended the day on six singles wins apiece.
Meanwhile, in the doubles Guyana lost their first two matches in the boys’ under-18 and under-12. Heimraj Resaul and McDonald lost to the Mannes brothers 6-2 6-1 while Vadeanand Resaul and Jeremiah Kalekyezi went down to Hermelijn and Issa 4-2 4-0.
In the girls’ under-12 doubles, Jones and Klautky nearly give up their match against Sadiek and Koorndijk after winning the first set 4-2. They lost the second set 2-4 but recovered to win the match 10-5. While In the girls under-14 doubles battle, Pooran and Fraser defeated Jang and Gregory 6-3 6-2.
At press time there were heated battles in the boys under-14 and girls under-18.
French Guiana and Martinique were level on points after an exciting day of intense battles between the two French nations.
Guyana will clash with the host nation tomorrow while Martinique and reigning champions Suriname will play.
