The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THERE’S a saying that lightning doesn’t strike twice in the same spot, but for the second consecutive year, it was Simone Pratt who prevailed over Kerrie Cartwright to clinch the women’s singles title at the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association’s 2012 Giorgio Baldacci Elite Tennis Tournament at the National Tennis Center on Friday.

Pratt, fast becoming the biggest name on the local tennis scene - if she hasn’t already earned that feat, pulled off a 6-6-3, 7-6 (5) win over Cartwright in a match that was delayed by the rain. It featured the top two ranked players in the tournament as they played through to form.

“We both played a great match. We both played well,” Pratt said. “I just went out there and gave it my all and I won.”

The low-keyed and soft-spoken Pratt, who will turn 17 on January 6, displayed some emotions at times during the match that saw her take control at the beginning of both sets.

In the first set, Pratt broke and held for a quick 3-0 lead. Cartwright got the break back for a 4-3 deficit, but Pratt eventually broke again and held serve for the 6-3 win.

In the second set, Pratt got the first break to go up 2-1. Cartwright evened the score at 4-4 when she got a break. But Pratt broke back to go ahead 6-5 when the rain came pouring down, forcing the delay in the match.

About two hours later, they were back on the court and right away, Cartwright got the break to pull even at 6-6 and eventually force the tie breaker.

But like she did in the first two sets, Pratt jumped out to an early 4-1 lead and with a lot more confidence, she went on to secure the match and the title for the second consecutive year.

“The rained helped because my coaches (father, Sidney, and family members) were able to tell me what I was doing wrong, so I was able to recoup and think about what I needed to do next,” Pratt said.

And as the champion again, Pratt displayed a little more emotions as she noted: “It feels great. I feel great about my performance.”

Pratt, one of those who benefited from the contributions of the late honouree Baldacci, said she “was training for this tournament and I got the results that I wanted, so I’m very happy.”

A very diplomatic Cartwright had nothing but praise for Pratt after the loss.

“I think it was good. I didn’t play the way I really wanted to play, but overall it was a good match. She played very well,” Cartwright said.

As for the rain delay, 20-year-old Cartwright said she got a chance to “recover and get out of the sweaty clothes.”

On the performances, she added: “I expected her to play as well as she did, but I expected myself to play much better than I did, especially mentally because I made a lot of mistakes when I should not have made those mistakes.”

Pratt, the top seeded player in the tournament, advanced to the final with her 6-2, 6-0 win over No.4 seed Larikah Russell in an all-Grand Bahamian semifinal.

Cartwright, the number two seed, won 6-3, 6-2 over Danielle Thompson. Russell was the former champion before Pratt took over last year.

Pratt and Cartwright eventually teamed up to play doubles as the No.2 seeds and won the title over Danielle Thompson and Erin Strachan 6-1, 6-0.

The top seeded team of Nikkita Fountain and Larikah Russell defaulted their semifinal match against Strachan and Thompson.

Pratt and Cartwright won their semis 6-1, 6-4 over Gabrielle Moxey and Chelsi Russell.