Latest update February 10th, 2025 2:25 PM
Day 4 highlights of GBTI Tennis Championships…Ramdhyan/Dey set up ladies doubles finals against Humphery/Gentle
The tennis fraternity over the years had its fluctuation in establishing prominence in the sporting landscape of Guyana. The quality and interest in this year’s GBTI Open renews hope that tennis can return to the heydays of great
Areta Dey (right) and Nicola Ramdyhan will be in a keenly contested battle against Carol Humphrey and Afruica Gentle.
champions and fierce competitions. The names of such persons as Sir Ian McDonald who represented Guyana at Wimbledon in the 1950s with the dreams of a nation on his shoulders must have been insurmountable. Tournaments such as GBTI Open create that platform to launch the next representative of Guyana at a Grand Slam or even the Olympics. The past and present generations must meet so that skills can be sharpened and knowledge of the game passed on.
A familiar face has returned to the home courts of GBTI Open 2015; Carol Humphrey is representing the Ancient County of Berbice in her quest to take the Ladies title. She is well known for her trick serves and tactical strategies that break her opponents mentally. She paired up with doubles partner, Afruica Gentle, in their first round match of the Ladies Doubles against Non Pariel’s top ladies players, Kizzy Richmond and Denise Barrington. Barrington/Richmond succumbed at 0/6, 2/6 to Humphrey/Gentle’s powerful shots and graceful volleys. The sagely council of Humphrey tempered young Gentle who at times got sporadic with big forehand shots which created unnecessary errors.
Shivani Persaud and Kalysia Fraser, under 14s girl, held their own against Nicola Ramdyhan and Areta Dey, girls 18s, in the Ladies Doubles Open. Persaud and Fraser made a good team since both have a calm demeanour but the level of energy to maintain the momentum was lacking at times. The two took a 3/0 lead over the 18 year olds in the first set and kept a lead until the score was 5/5 but the experience of Ramdyhan and Dey denied them the win. The set closed at 7/5 in favour of the senior players as well as the second which ended at 6/4. The finals will be more challenging when they duel against Carol Humphrey and Afruica Gentle.
The over 35s Men’s Singles veterans did not disappoint in the match between Russian Vladimir Permyakov and local Steven David-Long in a match that had a touch of every possible variables. The game plan of David-Long to have his opponent taken out of his comfort zone rewarded him with the first set, 6/4. Permyakov mentioned that the court was slower to the surface he usually plays on. He eventually settled and secured the second set, 6/1, which threw the game into sudden death. In the end, the Russian won the game 4/6, 6/1, 6/4. He plays the No.1 seed, Godfrey Lowden, in the semi-finals.
After being on court for three hours the night before, Kester Abrams returned to contend in the Men’s Doubles Open with partner, Bishan Dalip against Orande Dainty and Khawn Rodney. Dainty and Rodney gave a challenge to their opponents however the first set slipped from their hands. Abrams and Dalip were able to stay in their hitting range at the baseline and force lengthy rallies which resulted in errors from the other team. They wrapped up with a win of 7/5, 6/2 and will face the top seeds, Anthony Downes and Jason Andrews in their next match.
The last match of the night was played by Harry Panday and Joseph De Jonge against Charles Adams and Romario Chanderballi. Adams and Chanderballi had great shots but failed to consistently stay in the rallies. Panday displayed his 35 years of experience on the tennis court solid backup from De Jonge to prevail, 6/1, 6/3.
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