T&T's Under-14 Boys' team of Chris Khan, Josiah Hills, and Oliver Harragin will play for the bronze medal at the International Tennis Federation's (ITF) World Junior Tennis Tournament in the Dominican Republic after they were beaten in a semifinal clash by the host nation 2-1 Friday afternoon.
The girls' team of Cyra Ramcharan, Makeda Bain and Cherdine Sylvester earned the right to face Costa Rica for fifth position when they swept aside regional rival Jamaica in three sets, 3-0.
Led by coach Larry Yearwood, the country's U-14 tennis princesses rebounded from a comprehensive loss to Honduras the day before to a punishing result that positioned them for the best finish they could achieve at this point.
The usually prolific Ramcharan wasted little time in disposing of Jamaica's Nyla Francis 6-3, 6-2. Bain then sealed the win by defeating Kashvi Daswani 6-0,7-5, only for the pair of Sylvester and Ramcharan to stamp their authority on the match in the doubles by prevailing 4-1, 4-1 over the pair of Francis and Daswani.
Later, though the journey for the boys' team in their semifinal encounter was in stark contrast to the girls. Still, there was no stopping Khan who stormed from a set down to beat Daniel Suero 1-6, 7-6(2), 6-4.
With a set away from a place in the final, Hills tried as the second rubber up against the Dominican Republic's Miguel Baquero, but he surrendered in the end 3-6, 3-6, allowing the home team to level the scores at one apiece.
The home team, cheered on by their fans later prevailed in the deciding doubles 3-6, 1-6, courtesy of Miguel Baquero and Daniel Suero's dominance over the T&T duo of Hills and Harragin.
Friday's results
GIRLS
Cyra Ramcharan (TTO) def Nyla Francis (JAM) 6-3,6-2
Makeda Bain (TTO) def Kashvi Daswani (JAM) 6-0,7-5
Cherdine Sylvester/Cyra Ramcharan (TTO) def Myla Francis/Kashvi Daswani (JAM) 4-1,4-1
TTO Girls def Jamaica 3-0 and will face Costa Rica tomorrow for 5th and 6th position
BOYS
Chris Khan (TTO) def Daniel Suero (DOM) 1-6,7-6(2),6-4 TTO
Josiah Hills (TTO) lost to Miguel Baquero (DOM) 3-6,3-6
Miguel Baquero & Daniel Suero (DOM) def Josiah Hills & Oliver Harragin 3-6, 1-6