The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

HE had to play his way into the main draw, and now one Bahamian junior tennis star is one win away from a regional championship title.

Donte Armbrister advanced to the boys’ main draw final at the Under-14 JITIC Tournament in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

After his win over Fabian Taracena of Guatemala, Armbrister is slated to face No.1 seed Javier Flores of El Salvador in the final.

Armbrister, the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association’s junior national champion, also reached the semi-final of the ITF Junkanoo Bowl last month.

He entered the JITIC qualifying ranked at No.6 and, six wins later, is scheduled to face off with the tournament favourite.

It has been a stunning turnaround for the 14-year-old Temple Christian Academy student who failed to reach the main draw at last year’s JITIC tournament in El Salvador.

In other matches yesterday, in the girls’ main draw, Sydney Clarke fell short in her her bid to reach the final after her semi-final loss to Romary Cardenas of Mexico.

In the girls’ consolation, Sydni Kerr defeated Jade Tom Yew of Trinidad and Tobago 2-4, 4-0 (10-8), Elana Mackey lost to Gabriela Lopez of Guatemala 3-6, 4-6 and Emma Weech lost to Fernanda Lopez of Honduras 2-4, 1-4.

The girls’ doubles main draw saw Clarke and Kerr advance with a win over Cardenas and Jena Harrison of Jamaica 7-6, 2-6, 10-7.

In boys’ play, Armbrister and Trenton Fowler lost to Lopez and Nathalia Santos of Honduras in the second round 6-3, 3-6, 8-10.