The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

Kinza Johnson secured the final spot out of the qualifying round with a two-set victory over Kaylee Kanuka as the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association’s 2019 Giorgio Baldacci National Open Tennis Tournament continued yesterday.

In the lone match played at the National Tennis Centre, Johnson pulled off an identical 6-2, 6-2 win over Kanuka to finish in the number two spot in the women’s qualifying round with a 2-1 win-loss record.

Elana Mackey took the top spot as she remained undefeated at 3-0 with a walkover victory over Kristen Major. Kanuka got third at 1-2, while Johnson was winless in her three matches for the final spot.

The qualifying round was only played for the women with Mackey and Johnson completing the field of eight players in the main draw that will get started at 9:30am today at the National Tennis Centre.

The men went directly into the main draw with a field of 16 players with Baker Newman as the top seed. He will be followed by Kevin Major Jr at No.2, Philip Major Jr No.3 and Justin Lunn at No.4.

In her match, Johnson took advantage of Kanuka’s inability to get a good percentage of her first serves in to break in the first game of the first set.

After they held at 3-2, Johnson got another break for a 4-2 lead and she closed out the first set on a break for the 6-2 decision.

The second set was similar as Johnson got a break at 1-1, 3-1 and 5-1 as Kanuka again struggled at the service line.

However, Kanuka stayed alive with a break before Johnson responded with another to end the game, set and match.

“I think it went well,” Johnson summed up. “I was just making sure that I played it point by point and not get too far ahead in my thinking. I just needed to be calm, relaxed and swing at the ball properly.”

With the finish line ahead of her in the second set, leading 5-1, Johnson said she lost her composure a bit and that allowed Kanuka to get the ball to keep the match going a little longer.

“It’s okay,” Johnson said. “I got through it. That’s all that matters.”

Kanuka said as the youngest member of the qualifying round at age 13, she felt she gave it her best shot.

“It was hard,” she said. “The serve is the most important aspect of the game, so it’s important to get that in.”

Despite the loss, the Windsor High School student said she was delighted to get in the match play.

“I will be playing it next year too. Hopefully I would have gotten some more experience and be able to get into the main draw.”

Johnson, 15, is now drawn to play number two and defending champion Sydney Clarke in the first round of the main draw today at about 10:30am.

“I’m excited. This is the first time that I am making it to the main draw of this tournament,” she stated. “I just want to take it one match at a time.”

Mackey, the top player coming out of the qualifying round, will take on Perjae Mackey in another match at 10:30am.

Top seed Kerrie Cartwright will face Afrika Smith in one of the two ladies’ matches at 9:30am and Sierra Donaldson takes on veteran Larikah Russell in the other 9:30am match.

On the men’s side, the top two seeds Baker Newman and Kevin Major Jr will not play on opening day.

Instead, No.3 seed Philip Major Jr will take on McGregor Woodside at 12:30pm, just after No.4 seed Justin Lunn faces Rodney Carey Jr.

In other men’s matches, veteran Marvin Rolle will play Archie Burrows at 9:30am, as well as Cory Francis vs Jacobi Bain. At 10:30am, defending champion Donte Armbrister will meet Spencer Newman and at 12:30pm, Perry Newton is slated to go up against Patrick Brown.

The tournament will run through Saturday when players will get to earn their spots on the men’s Davis Cup and women’s Fed Cup teams.