Jackson wins second straight Burger King Shot Gun Blast

In the battle of the super powers Julian ‘Michael Jackson’ White is up 2-0.

 

Playing in the second edition of the Burger King Road Tennis Shot Gun Blast at Sky Mall, White handed Mark ‘Venom’ Griffith his second last in as many finals on Sunday.

 

Griffith is considered as the current number one player in road tennis, while White has been at the top before and has slipped to where he now sits in the top three of the island.

 

But White has seemingly found the antidote for the Venom in these tournaments where only one set is played and it counts for everything.

 

As expected a see-saw battle ensued during the opening moments of the game with each player having a mini run.

 

White won the last final with some aggressive and forceful shots but in this one he had seemingly taken a different approach, at least for the first half of the game.

 

Knowing every point was crucial both players reacted each time they lost a point.

 

However, White’s final run came at the right time, in the later half and with Griffith spoiling the ball long and at times in the net, Jackson pounced.

A beautiful cross court forehand winner was well set up and executed. White played three consecutive balls with increasing acute angles to Griffith’s backhand, seemingly setting up a cross court shot on the opposite side. But that’s what Griffith and most of the crowd thought too and they were all wrong. As Griffith sensing White about to go for the definitive shot, Griffith started to go to the forehand side but Jackson had other ideas and placed yet another ball in the backhand which left Griffith stuck in place and level the scores at 19-19.

 

As if sensing the impending victory Jackson punched the air after his winner.

 

Jackson followed up that shot with an impressive down the line forehand winner to give him match point.

 

He didn’t have to do much as Griffith backhand return hit midway down the net and gave Jackson a 21-19 victory.

 

Earlier in the semi-finals both White and Griffith came from down early in the set to dismiss their opponents Darius Gaskin and Curtis Jones.