A new champion has been crowned and the best of the best have pulled through when they claimed their titles at last week’s Summer Slam Tennis Classic organised by the Saint Lucia Tennis Association (SLTA). The one-week tournament has been hailed a huge success despite an entire day lost to rain. New girl on the local scene Jessica Eudovic, from the John McEnroe Tennis Academy in the USA has claimed two singles titles and one doubles.
In the 14 and Under Girls finals, Jessica defeated Latoya Murray; in the Under 16 finals she defeated Iyana Paul. Jessica then team up with Iyana Paul in the Under 16 girls Doubles finals to defeat Lindy Amedee and Amelia Duval.
In the 12 and under girls a new champion has been crowned, Jaelyn Henry, she also captured the green ball 10 title. She had wins over Amara Jn Marie (12s) and Amia Jn Marie (green ball). Sanjay Lake has written his name in the NTC book of record when he captured his first local title in the green ball category defeating Mathew George.
The 2020 Independence Day Classic champion, Joey Angeloni, the only player to win all matches played claimed the singles 18 and Under title defeating Petterson George. Iyana Paul took home the girls 18s singles defeating Alysa Elliott in the finals. Nathanael Charles took home both the boys 12s and 14s singles titles with wins over Soren Clairmonte (12s) and Peter Murray (14s). Red Ball Girls Finalist- Merkisha Justin, Champion – Celia Brathwaite; Red Ball Boys- Finalist Kimari Felix, Champion – Immanuel Charles; Orange Ball Girls Finalist Samuella Bertrand, Champion – Hannah McNamara and Orange Ball Boys Finalist Denney Estava, Champion – Dante Joseph.
The closing ceremony takes place on Wednesday 19th August, 2020 from 4.00 p.m. at the NTC in Beausejour, Gros-Islet. Individuals who participated in the Blanchard Invitational Tennis Tournament are invited to be in attendance as the awards will be presented also. According to Skyla Murry, the administrator at the NTC, “The rankings will definitely be changing as we have had many unexpected results, major upsets for the top seeds and top-ranked and much improvement from others”.
Doubles Green Ball Girls Finalists Samuella Bertrand and Amia Jn Marie, Champions Jordyn Bishamber and Jaelyn Henry. Green Ball Boys Finalists Abbazeke Jules and Dante Joseph, Champions – Sanjay Lake and Denney Estava. 12 and Under Girls Finalists Jaelyn Henry and Shahelaer Jules, Champions – Amia Jn Marie and Amara Jn Marie. 12 and Under Boys Finalists Soren Clairmonte and Sanjay Lake, Champions – Nathanael Charles and Peter Murray 14 and Under Girls Finalists Amara Jn Marie and Natasha Charles, Champions – Lotoya Murray and Amelia Rosemond. 16 and Under Girls Finalists Lindy Amedee and Amelia Duval, Champions Iyana Paul and Jessica Eudovic.
Meanwhile, Murry took the time out on behalf of the SLTA to express special thank you to the Saint Lucia Olympic Committee (SLOC) Inc for their full financial support towards the pulling off of this tournament. She also thanked the Saint Lucia Red Cross Society, the media, officials, coaches, parents and players for all the assistance given to the tournament team in executing such a successful event.
