Harris reigns supreme at Pan Carib champs

Ryon Jones, Gleaner Writer

Daniel Harris crowned himself in glory by capturing both the boys' Under-16 and Under-18 titles, at the Pan Caribbean All-Jamaica Junior Tennis Championships, at Tennis Jamaica yesterday.

The third-seeded Harris first overcame his opponent with the same last name, Jordan, 6-4, 6-0 to take the Under-18 crown.

The match was tied at four-all in the first set with the advantage to Jordan but a shoulder injury, which he has been plagued with for some time, flared up, forcing him to seek medical attention, on the first of two occasions during the match. He however did not recover, and went on to lose eight straight games and ultimately the match.

Daniel got a sterner challenge in his Under-16 final match-up against the number one seed, Horatio Ludford. He went down 3-6 in the first set, but swept the second set 6-0 and took the third 6-3 and with it, the match.

Very excited

Daniel was very excited to take his first double at the championships, following in the footsteps of Joseph Ross, who did so last year.

"I have never done it before so I am very excited. Last year I took the 16s so I am glad to take both this year," said Harris.

He was, however, not pleased with the manner of victory in the Under-18 final.

"I don't like winning by default because I know he (Jordan) is handicapped and I know he can play a lot better, so next time I would like to play him when he is fully healthy."

Daniel, a 15-year-old Hydel High student, will be heading off to boarding school in New Jersey come September, but intends to return for his title-defence next year.

"By that time it will be summer so I will be glad to," he promised.

Runner-up spot

Defending Under-18 girl's champion, Nia Rose, came into the final day with an opportunity to take the double, but she had to settle for the runner-up spot in both. She first went down 6-2, 6-2 to Sicquena Sinclair in the Under-18 final, before losing by the identical scoreline to Shantal Blackwood in the Under-16 category.

Sinclair lost in both the Under-16 and Under-18 semi-finals last year was very happy to get the better of Rose.

"I feel good because it is my first time beating Nia Rose, so I feel good about it," said Sinclair.

Simon Levy rallied from a set down to pull off an upset over number two-ranked Andrew Bicknell in the boys' Under-14 final. Bicknell took the first set 6-2, but Levy won the second and third sets 6-4, 7-5, respectively.

Shaeann Kameka took the girls' equivalent, easily beating Shaeda Nickle 6-1, 6-1.

In an all-family affair in the boys Under-12 final, Jacob Bicknell demolished his brother, Blaise, 6-1, 6-0.