Bicknell Claims Double At ITF Junior Tourney

Robert Bailey, Gleaner Writer

Defending champion Andrew Bicknell flourished when he captured the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Jamaica Junior Tournament Under-14 singles title at the University of the West Indies (UWI) yesterday to claim a double victory.

The 13-year-old Bicknell recorded an exciting 7-5, 6-2 victory over Costa Rica's Eduardo Camacho on his way to retaining his singles title, and later teamed up with his cousin to win the doubles crown.

"It feels good," said Bicknell. "It is a good title to win because the guy that I beat in the final is a really good player and so I am very happy that I won."

Bicknell, who was ranked number two in the tournament, was just as impressive en route to the final as he registered a hard-fought 7-6 (7-3), 3-6, 6-3 win over Franco Guevara from Costa Rica in the semi-final.

The unseeded Camacho secured his place in the final with a hard-fought 7-5, 6-7 (12-3), 6-3 win over Jamaica's top-ranked player, Roger Lyn.

"It was a pretty difficult tournament because I had to play my best today (Wednesday) and I did that, and so I was able to come out the winner," Bicknell added.

Andrew then paired with his cousin Jacob Bicknell to capture the Under-14 doubles title.

Andrew and Jacob, who were the number one seeds, recorded an exciting come-from-behind 2-6, 6-3, 10-6 super tiebreaker victory over fellow countrymen Lyn and Dimitri Bird in the final.

"I am happy that we won the doubles because last year we lost in the final, and so it feels good to win the title," said Andrew said.

Jacob, who was beaten by Camacho in the quarter-finals of the Under-14 singles, was very delighted with their victory.

"It was a really hard match, but I am happy that we have won the title," he said.

Meanwhile, Jamaica's Shaeda Nickle took the runner-up spot in the girls' Under-14 singles championships, which was played on a round-robin format.

The event was won by D'Jeri Raymond from Antigua and Barbuda.

Jamaica's participation in the boys' Under-18 doubles ended at the quarter-final stage, as Daniel Harris, who partnered with Felipe Oyarzun from Chile, was beaten by Gabriel Cleto of Brazil and Aranburu Contreras from Mexico 6-1, 6-4.

The local female pair of Shellita Haughton and Phadria Kepple were also eliminated at the quarter-final stage of the Under-18 doubles, as they were outclassed 6-1, 6-0 by top-ranked Madria Leroux from South Africa and Tyler Smith of Bermuda.