Coach Daly overcomes student, Lowden edges Panday

With nothing to lose, Dey’s desire to win manifested at the commencement of the second set. Seeking to challenge Daly’s first set rampage, she broke Daly’s first service game again.

But Daly broke back to level again at 1-1. Dey broke again to go up 2-1. Her occasional passing shots reminded Daly that she was going to be a fierce competitor. But the experienced Daly, clearly unmoved by this, maintained a safe-tennis strategy by mixing up her strokes.

Dey was no match for this change of play and gradually ensured the coach’s increasing dominance of a 5 game winning haul, claiming the set at 6-2.

In an invited comment, Dey marvelled at the opportunity to compete with Daly, stating that it was an honor to go at loggerheads with someone that has a wealth of experience on the court.

Daly consequently showered praises on Dey for her technique and remarkable service and ground strokes consistencies. She says it’s always uncomfortable to compete with her students, but that playing to the best of her ability will always remain her number one focus.

Daly advances to the semi-finals to play another of her successful students, Afruica Gentle.

In yet another competitive match, the reigning Men’s 35 champion, Godfrey Lowden, had the opportunity to defend his title against veteran counterpuncher Harry Panday in the Semi-Finals.

Lowden started strong ensuring his first service game. Panday responded accordingly by holding serve as well. Lowden broke to go up 2-1 but Panday broke back to even the score at 2-2.

Serving at 2-2 and with clear aspirations of securing the first set, Lowden propelled himself throughout the set applying pressure to Panday with his powerful serves and flat fast paced ground strokes. This guaranteed him the first set at 6-2.

But Panday wowed the crowd with the level of play he exemplified in the second set. Lowden appeared to have the set under control going up 3-1. But each game played was very tactical and went down to the wire as Panday seemed to shock Lowden with his unnerving consistency. This earned him a leveled score at 3-3.

Panday further broke and held serve to 5-3 where he lost 3 set points on his serve to give Lowden an opportunity to stay in the set. But Lowden’s quest to be in the finals once again helped him to brave the surplus of balls coming back from his opponent during four extended and keenly contested games to take the second set and match at 7-5.

Boy’s Open Singles Quarterfinals: Mark McDonald def Joshua Kalekyezi 6-3, 6-0, Keenan Persaud def Khalid Gobin 6-4, 6-4, Jordan Beaton def Vijay Sharma 6-0, 6-0, Heimraj Resaul def Ravin Ramprasad 6-0, 6-0

Girls Open Singles Finals: Kalyca Fraser def Shivani Persaud 6-4, 6-2

Men’s Open Singles Round of 16: Daniels Lopes def Keenan Persaud 7-5, 6-0, Mark McDonald def Stephen Bailey 6-3,6-3

Men’s Open Singles Round of 32: Jordan Beaton def Khalid Gobin 6-1, 6-0

Ladies Open Singles Quarterfinals: Shelly Daly def Aretta Dey 6-3, 6-2,

Men’s 35 Singles Semifinals: Godfrey Lowden def Harry Panday 6-2, 7-5, Leyland Leacock def Albert Razick 6-2,6-1

Novice Medley Singles Quarterfinals: Brian Primo def Dimitri Gabriel w/o, Alvin Doris def Delon Fraser w/o

Novice Medley Doubles Round-robin: M. Campbell/P. Hope def B. Primo/A. Doris 6-2

Ladies Open Doubles: A. Gentle/C. Campbell def N. Ramdyhan/C. Subryan 6-0, 6-0