Number one seed Akiel Duke showed all and sundry how to take ownership of a tennis tournament bearing your name by making an impressive start to the Men's division of the Akiel Duke Academy Open.
Playing at the Guaracara Tennis Club in Pointe-a-Pierre yesterday, Duke easily sailed past Jarred Phillips 8-1 for a spot in the quarterfinals, where he was joined by number four seed Kale Dalla Costa who had a sterner test before prevailing over Andre Crawford 8-5 in their round of 16 clash.
National coach Dunstan Denoon showed that he was still more than capable of holding his own with some of the players he coaches, by also moving into the last eight when he defeated Kendon Cornwall 8-2.
On Friday’s opening round of 32, Crawford won his first match with an almost flawless 8-1 triumph over Chevon Collins on court two, while Phillips moved on to his eventual clash with Duke by holding off Justin Horsford 8-4 in one of the first matches to be played.
Cornwall hardly broke a sweat in disposing of Kevin Gooptar 8-1 on court one, while Che Andrews defeated Marquis Henry by the same score on court two.
In other round of 16 results, Kino Francis, one of the favourites to take home the title, made light work of Shwade Horne 8-2, Beckham Sylvester battled past Joshua David 8-5, Andrew Thornton got the better of Tim Pasea 8-4 and on court one, Askia Richards advanced courtesy of a walk-over victory of Joel Ramlogan.
