The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

It was the second consecutive under-14 title for the Bahamas in as many days, this time with the triumph coming in the girls’ division at the  Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association National Tennis Centre.

It was an active day for Bahamian females across the board on day three of the 2015 ITF Junkanoo Bowl yesterday, highlighted by Sydney Clarke’s division title.

Clarke won in straight sets over fellow Bahamian Elana Mackey, 6-4, 6-3.

After a bye in the first round, her path to the title included a second round win over Alesha Alleyne of Barbados, 6-4, 6-1.

Mackey also received an opening round bye and, in round two, defeated Bahamian Sydney Kerr, 6-1, 6-3. Four of the six players in the draw were local talents.

In the girls’ 18 singles draw, Iesha Shepherd could not extend her stay in the draw with a second consecutive come-from-behind victory. She fell 6-3, 6-2 to Sabina Dadaciu of the United States.

Shepherd had to battle back to win her first round match 3-6, 7-5, 6-1 over American Zoe Radojicic and was the only Bahamian to survive the first round of the 18s in both the boys and girls divisions.

It was a tough outing on the court for Shepherd as she also lost in doubles play alongside teammate Kayla Frosh of Barbados.

The Caribbean duo fell 6-0, 7-6(5) to Norway’s Lillian Gabrielsen and American Katie LaFrance.

Shepherd was also the only Bahamian to advance out of the first round in doubles. She combined with Frost for a 6-3, 6-3 upset over the No.3 seeded girls team of Americans Hurricane Tyra Black and Julia Goldberg.

With no Bahamians left in either 18s draw, the tournament is set to continue today with a schedule heavy with visitors at the National Tennis Centre.

The BLTA has now hosted the grade four tournament for over a decade.

This year’s event featured some of the world’s best junior players, including those from countries like Japan, Russia, Norway, Costa Rica, Australia, Canada, USA, Mexico, China among others.

The event is supervised by ITF referee Mickey Williams for the 18s and George Baxter for the 14s.