Intra-club rivalry once again rose in the GBTI Independence Jubilee Open as Kalyca Fraser and Shivani Persaud went head-to-head to seize the coveted Girls Open Singles title.
In the end, it was Fraser who emerged as the champion with a straight-set win.
Fraser, known for her great technique, served to hold her first game, much to the expectation of the spectators. Persaud’s consistency was evident as she served and held to bring the games to 1-1.
This did not rattle Fraser, as she repeated her hold on serve to earn the first break in set at 2-1. Serving at 1-2, Persaud’s agility awarded her the fourth game, resulting in yet another tie in games at 2-2. The players continued to hold their service games until their last tie in the first set at 4-4. Fraser admitted that her opponent was more consistent than she was, so she resorted to work on her placement of balls to gain the upper hand. Serving at 4-4, this technique allowed her to win her service game to lead Persaud at 5-4.
The set, characterised by grueling rallies, was won by Fraser after she broke Persaud’s service game.
The players traded service holds in the second set up to 2-2, causing tennis fans to expect the match to go to a third set. Persaud struggled to maintain the trend, if not lead her opponent. Though both players were exhausted, as fate would have it, Fraser mustered the zeal to claim the second set hers by winning a whopping four consecutive games.
At 6-4, 6-2, Kalyca Fraser was crowned Girls Open Singles champion.
In other results, Men’s Open Doubles Round of 16: H. Resaul/J. Kalekyezi defeated V. Resaul/D. Kalekyezi 6-1, 6-1; Mixed Open Doubles Semifinals: G. Lowden/S. Daly defeated D. Fraser/K. Fraser 6-0, 6-0; A. Downes/A. Gentle defeated J. Beaton/C. Pooran 6-0, 6-1; and Novice Medley Singles Semifinals: Devon Gonsalves defeated Brian Primo 6-0.
Matches will continue this weekend.
