The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

The top Bahamian players in both the men's and women's singles draw of the ITF Goombay Splash Bowl each advanced in dominant fashion, highlighting play from Bahamian players on day three.

Sydney Clarke, Jacobi Bain and Donte Armbrister are all through to the quarter-finals when tournament play resumes today at the National Tennis Centre.

After a bye in the opening round, Clarke made her debut with a 6-2, 6-0 win over Mudou Zhou of China.

"It was a very important day. I didn't play for the first two days so coming out really strong was important for me to get my momentum and pick it up and eventually I was able to find my game and play how I normally do," Clarke said.

"The first set was a little bit shaky, the first four games, but then I was able to pull out and started to dominate more. The second set I came out strong, I concentrated much better and I made sure to keep the ball in play and to just play my game.

"I'll need to raise my energy more, it's more of concentration and energy so when I get on the court I need to move my feet, bounce, just find a rhythm and to just stay with it and not wonder away from that."

Clarke is the tournament's defending champion. Her 2018 triumph was her first tournament won at home.

In a hard-fought battle, Clarke came up with a dominant performance in the third set to eventually win the girls' singles title 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 over unseeded American Leyden Games.

"It always feels good to play at home.

"I love the support and it is always very, very supportive. Everyone comes out and cheers and it's a better feeling. I feel more relaxed, it's less pressure and it feels like an advantage," she said. "Hopefully I can continue on in the tournament and make the most of it."

In the men's draw, Bain advanced with a 6-1, 6-0 win over Rohan Gold of the USA.

"It went pretty good, I feel like I played some of my best tennis. I just played like I normally do, I just keep it simple, keep the balls on the court and take advantage when I have the chance," Bain said. "Playing at home is very comfortable. I'm used to these courts, I grew up on these courts, and it'll always be a great venue to play at. I feel like this tournament is going to be good. I know these guys, I grew up playing with these guys. I just look forward to doing my best and doing better than I did last year."

In the 2018 tournament, Bain advanced to the final but was defeated by American Bruno Kuzuhara 6-3, 6-3.

Bain still managed to come out with a title as he and his New Zealand partner William Kesterson teamed up to win the doubles crown.

Armbrister was the third Bahamian to advance to the quarter-final when he won 6-1, 6-3 over Liam Drover-Mattinen of Canada.

Also in singles play, Denali Nottage lost to Matias Gaedechens of Chile 6-1, 6-3.

Bain and Armbrister were also successful in doubles play as they advanced to the semi-final in the draw. He again teamed with Kesterson this year and they advanced to the semi-final with yesterday's 6-1, 6-0 win over Charlie Cowan and Cyrus Mahjoob of the United States.

Armbrister and Andy Hernandez of the United States also reached the semi-final when they defeated Aiden and Liam Drover-Mattinen of Canada 6-3, 7-5.

Clarke and her partner, Miu Yabuta of Japan, were eliminated yesterday with a 6-4, 6-3 loss to Sophia Wang and Artemis Pados of the USA.

Bain will get the action started this morning at 9am when he faces unranked Cooper Williams of the United States.

Simultaneously, Armbrister will face Shu Matsuoka of Japan in his quarter-final.

Clarke will follow with her quarter-final matchup against Wang, of thge US.

In doubles play, Armbrister and Hernandez will face the American pairing of Yannik Rahman and Williams.

Bain and Kesterson of will face Gaedechens and Maxime Navrotchi of Luxembourg.