Latest update March 27th, 2026 12:40 AM
Patterson, Clarke among first winners of GTA Novice Championships
Tisel Patterson
Kaieteur Sports – The Guyana Tennis Association (GTA) Novice Championships served off on Saturday, May 18, at the National Racquet Centre with an exciting lineup of matches that showcased the talent of emerging players.
The week-long tournament featured fifteen entrants across three categories: The Ladies’ Beginner Novice, the Men’s Beginner Novice, and the Men’s Intermediate Novice. The format for all categories is one set, with no advantage scoring.
Beginners are players who are still learning the basics of the game, having difficulty anticipating where the ball will bounce and maintaining longer rallies.
On the other hand, intermediate novices have developed better court coverage and consistency in medium-paced rallies but may still struggle with adding depth and variety to their game.
In the tournament’s first match, Tisel Patterson staged an impressive comeback to defeat Justine Kennedy 7-5 in the Ladies’ Beginner Novice round-robin action.
Mark Clark (left) and Vinish Etwaroo
Serving at 2-5 down, Patterson fought off four match points to secure her first victory.
The Men’s Beginner Novice featured a closely contested match between Mark Clarke and Vinish Etwaroo. Clarke won 7 of the last 8 points to notch the win 7-6 (0).
Akil Gittens also earned an impressive win by edging out Nyjel Sundar 6-4 in the Men’s Intermediate Novice.
The GTA Novice Championships are designed for newcomers to showcase their skills in a competitive and supportive environment. Players can enhance their mental game and gain experience by competing against opponents under pressure.
As interest and participation in tennis continue to grow in Guyana, the GTA Novice Championships provide a dynamic learning environment that is unmatched by traditional practice sessions.
Other match results include:
Ladies’ Beginner Novice
Alicia Greene defeated Christina Basil 6/4.
Justine Kennedy defeated Judy Khayyam 6/1.
Tisel Patterson defeated Alicia Green 6/1.
Men’s Beginner Novice
Osafa Dos Santos defeated Nkofi Hodge 6/2.
Joshua Kennedy defeated Vinish Etwaroo 6/4.
Vinish Etwaroo received a walkover from Torrel Scott.
Joshua Kennedy received a walkover from Torrel Scott.
Men’s Intermediate Novice
Immanuel Barker defeated Robert Edwards 2/2 (ret.).
Matches continue today at 18:00 hrs.
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