The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

KERRIE Cartwright and Danielle Thompson both breezed past their respective opponents - Afrika Smith and Sierra Donaldson - on day one of the Giorgio Baldacci Open National Challenge.

As the weeklong tournament got underway yesterday at the National Tennis Centre, the women’s Fed Cup teammates made their statements as they were joined by Iesha Shepherd, who is making her comeback here after missing last year’s tournament with an injury.

Unfortunately, collegian Shepherd suffered another injury during her two-set win over Donesha Gibson in her first match played in the tournament and was unable to play her much anticipated second match against top junior player Sydney Clarke.

Cartwright blanks Smith

In a strong performance to get started, 26-year-old Kerrie Cartwright blanked 18-year-old Bethune-Cookman University freshman Afrika Smith 6-0, 6-0 to clinch her first victory.

“I had a bit of nerves, not having played in a tournament match in a couple of months, but overall, it was good. I like it. It was good to be back,” Cartwright stated.

“I think going to the next match, I just have to focus on going deeper and focusing a little more on my game. It’s always good to be home playing. I wished more of my tournaments were here.”

Cartwright, however, said she’s not taking anything for granted, especially considering the fact that there are some unknown players entered and she doesn’t want to be in an upset. “I’m looking forward to it,” she said.

Smith, however, bounced back and won 4-6, 6-1, 11-9 over Sydni Kerr.

Thompson gets back in sync

with two-setter over Donaldson

It has been a while since Danielle Thompson played a match and in some instances it showed. But her performance was good enough to propel her to a 6-0, 6-2 decision over 18-year-old Sierra Donaldson.

“I got off to a slow start. I was just getting into the groove because I haven’t played a match since Fed Cup, so I wanted to see where I’m at,” she pointed out.

“I started off a little rusty, but I started to get into my groove and was playing with a lot more confidence at the end. I was training, but I haven’t had any match play before I came here, so it was good to get this one under my belt.”

The 24-year-old graduate of Morgan State where she left an indelible mark as a Bears’ player, said she’s looking forward to making a splash in 2019 when she go on the tour, but she just want to make the top five and return to the Fed Cup team next year as well.

Shepherd duplicate two-set

feat over Gibson

It was a 6-1, 6-1 win for Chicago State University sophomore Iesha Shepherd over Donesha Gibson, 16. But in the process, Shepherd, 19, suffered a slight right ankle injury in the first set.

“I was on a roll. I was playing well when I had the freak accident and my game just went down,” Shepherd said. “It was a freak accident, I just didn’t know why it happened, but I had to fight through it.

“I’m just glad to be back home. There’s no place like home. Last year, I didn’t compete because of a wrist injury, but I wanted to come back this year and play much better. Hopefully my injury will hold up.”

The injury didn’t hold up as Shepherd was unable to play her second match against Sydney Clarke later in the day. As a result, Clarke, 18, was awarded a walk/over victory.

In addition, there was also a no show from Larikah Russell, who lost two of her matches to Elana Mackey and Perjae Major yesterday.