The Tribune

By TENAJH SWEETING

Tribune Sports Reporter

tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

Athletes turned in top performances to make a smooth transition into today’s semifinals at the Giorgio Baldacci Open Tennis National Championships. In yesterday’s quarterfinals round, the top seeds validated their rank by dropping their opponents.

The semifinals are all set for the women’s singles matches with Sydney Clarke scheduled to face Takaii Adderley and Simone Pratt versus the defending champion Elana Mackey.

The men’s singles matchups will feature reigning national champion Denali Nottage against Rodney Carey Jr and Michael Major Jr on the court opposite Baker Newman today.

Yesterday’s opening matchups saw the top seeded players coast to the semifinals round starting with the women’s singles quarterfinals.

Clarke, first ranked in the women’s singles, remained in top form yesterday at the National Tennis Centre (NTC).

She dominated Breann Fergsuon in consecutive sets, earning identical scores of 6-0 in the overall match. After a relatively comfortable victory, Clarke has high hopes ahead of today’s semifinals against Adderley.

“I have high hopes. I am hoping to get the win and to be able to reclaim the title as national champion but I am taking it one match at a time. It will be my first time playing Takaii so I am really excited to see the game plan that I come up with and how I execute it tomorrow,” she said.

The 22-year-old described her match against Ferguson as an almost perfect game on her end.

“My match today went well. It was almost perfection, I had some moments where I was in and out and made a few errors but my opponent played well, she never eased up and kept pushing me. For me it is always more mental than physical so I am just hoping to carry over the same energy from today into tomorrow so that I can hopefully be in the finals as well,” she said.

Her upcoming opponent shut down Afrika Smith in straight sets 6-1, 6-2. Adderley, who emerged as a double crown victor at the AID Junior National Tennis Championships, is locked in ahead of today’s tough match.

“Sydney is a great player so I know it is going to be a tough match. I just want to go in and play my A-game,” she said.

Although she was not entirely impressed with her efforts against Smith, the former Gainesville Sun girls’ tennis player of the year was happy to close out her opponent to advance to the next round.

Nottage remains poised on his quest to the Giorgio Baldacci finals once again. The defending champion will have his work cut out against the third ranked Carey Jr.

The latter bested Cailan Bowe 6-0, 6-0 in straight sets to emerge one step closer to the final stage. Nottage accomplished a similar victory, defeating Alec Hooper 6-0, 6-0.

“Today was a day that I am proud of because of how the draw was set up. I had to stay mentally focused, some might say the match was boring but I worked on staying consistent and taking it point by point.”

With Carey Jr hoping to avenge his loss against Nottage in last year’s semifinals round of the Giorgio Baldacci Tennis Nationals, the latter will have to bring his A-game from the start.

“I am going to try my best to jump on him early. He has a lot of experience. I know it is not going to be a walk in the park. I am just ready to come out and battle tomorrow,” he said.

Mackey, the second seed and last year’s national champion, will go head to head against the third seeded Pratt. She knocked off Clarke’s younger sister, Sarai Clarke, 6-1, 6-1 on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Pratt packed her bags for the semifinals after a 6-1, 6-2 effort against Freeport native Jalisa Clarke.

“I am pretty happy and excited for my match tomorrow and I am looking forward to being in the finals as well. I am just going to go for my shots, play confident, not get frustrated if my opponent wins one or two games or makes a few shots. I just have to stick with my gameplan,” the women’s defending champion said.

Major Jr, who recently showcased his skills at the Baha Mar Cup, downed top junior Carroll 7-6(5), 6-1. The Howard University student will now prepare for Baker Newman, who advanced following a gruelling three-set thriller against Donte Armbrister which ended 7-6(5), 5-7, 6-3.

After narrowly edging out Carroll in the opening set, Major Jr said he found a rhythm which gave him an advantage the rest of the way.

“It was a good match. I knew he was going to be a good opponent, he beat me in three sets the last time. At the beginning I started off a bit shaky. I didn’t really have a feel of the ball but as the match progressed I felt like I was getting in my rhythm. I knew after I won the first set I had a rhythm and it would be easier in the second set,” he said.

He added that playing at his own pace and remaining calm helped him to succeed in the matchup.

Major Jr, who is in his second appearance at the tennis nationals, is ready to battle in his first semifinals at the event.

“It is a good feeling. I played in the tournament twice, I am 17 now and played in it when I was 15/16 which was not the best but I feel like now I am ready. My mindset for tomorrow is just to go out there and play the tennis I know how to play and never underestimate my opponent,” he said.

Matchups begin 9:30am at the NTC.