The Monarchs of the Court to be decided today

FOR the first time in road tennis history, the men and women will be playing for the same prize, as each will receive a new car and a cash prize in the Barbados Public Workers’ Credit Union Monarch of the Court.

Defending champion and the first man to win a car in road tennis history, Mark ‘Venom’ Griffith, is slated to defend his title against Julian ‘Michael Jackson’ White.

These two are ranked one and two respectively in the tournament and had contrasting paths to the finals today.

Griffith never looked troubled in the semis when he easily dismissed Marson Johnson in straight games, and it looked like Johnson was feeling just how potent the ‘Venom’ was as the match was nearing the conclusion.

However, White faced a formidable challenge from Davien ‘Force Ripe’ Taylor in his semi-final match up. Taylor was becoming a giant killer in tournament as the unseeded player took out some of the higher seeds en route to the semis.

In his match against White, Taylor had the fans jumping with some impressive forehand winners, which eventually took his to victory in the first game.However, White may have played the better mental game, which rattled his younger opponent somewhat, and White won the next two games before he could settle once again.

Taylor came close to forcing a fifth set at the end of the fourth, when he returned to his early form by hitting some winners and going on an impressive run, but White was too far to be caught.

White is the current World Champion of the game, while Griffith missed out after bowing out surprisingly in the semis.

These two are known for long rallies, though Griffith has been the fitter of the two, so now it is left to be seen what tactics will be employed today.

In the Women’s Division, Kim Holder’s invincible armour has started to crack, as her undefeated streak which lasted years was unravelled in more than one tournament.
She faces the player, Sheldene Walrond, who has seemingly found the where the crack lies and has handed the dominant women’s champion defeat after defeat.

The stakes are high this time and Holder looks to be in top form, once again easily dismissing Abigail Haynes in the semi-finals.

Walrond had her hands full in her semis as Rachel Smith managed to take her to the wire before Walrond edged home.

Has Holder repaired the kinks in her armour or will Walrond once again exploit them and walk away with the biggest Women’s prize to date?

It all goes down at the Big Rock court on Spring Garden tonight. Action starts at 6 p.m with an in-house tournament, then the Juniors, followed by the Mixed Doubles.

The main contenders are slated to take to the court around 8:30 p.m. and the prize giving ceremony is scheduled for immediately afterwards.