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Tennis standard at its lowest right now- Squires
Five-time Pegasus Open Tennis champion Phillip Squires receives the winning trophy and cash incentive from Sponsor’s Representative Susan Isaacs following the completion of the tournament last Monday.
National Men’s Tennis champion Phillip Squires speaking with Kaieteur Sport following his fifth consecutive triumph in the Pegasus Open Championships said that in his opinion, apart from a few players with talent, the sport has not made much progress.
Squires, who easily disposed of Ezra Sue-Ho in the final, last Monday, believed the main reason for the decline in standard is due to the lack of consistent competitions which has served to reduce interest in the game.
The champ added the scarcity of facilities has also impacted on the sport now seen at its lowest ebb in comparison with what obtained during the 80’s, 90’s and the early part of this decade.
Squires disclosed that the sport is at a critical point right now and if not addressed immediately could soon see a further decline in the standard of play.
He admitted that there is no doubt that there are a few talented players around, but if they do not get the opportunity to participate in regular tournaments locally, it would be difficult for them to go abroad and make a significant mark where the level of competition is much higher.
“Many of the players because of the lack of local tournaments do not take the game seriously, while some of them with the talent cannot afford to travel,” Squires pointed out.
He confessed that attempts have been made recently for players to attend more tournaments regionally, but very often it is only the ones whose parents can afford to send them go and many times they are not the best of the lot.
Squires said that since his promotion from the junior division, the current batch has not been able to dethrone him and this is despite the fact that he does not even practice, a testimony to the state of the game here.
Asked how he felt winning the title for the fifth time, the quiet unassuming champion said that even though it felt good, there is nothing after that.
“It has become just like a normal thing to me and would you believe I wasn’t expecting to win due to the fact that I do not practice,” Squires commented.
The champ lamented the lack of support for the game and called on the authorities and the new executive to fast track its development.
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