Top Juniors cruise into quarter-finals

 

BARBADOS’ future in Road Tennis appears to be in good hands as two of the top junior players Emar Edwards and Darius ‘Baracus’ Gaskin, ripped through their opponents to advance to the quarter-finals of the Barbados Public Workers’ Co-operative Credit Union Limited sponsored Monarchs of the Court.

 

Despite playing the night before, Gaskin returned to totally dominate David Arrendell in Round 16. In the opening game, Arrendell had no answers for Gaskin’s onslaught which came from every angle of the court. 

Gaskin came focussed and won the first five points of the game from his serve. Arrendell fell deeper in the hole as he only won one point with his serve.

 

With his attacking play Gaskin always had Arrendell on the back foot and even when Arrendell tried attacking Gaskin he defended well and changed the tie by countering his attack. 

 

Before he had time to settle Arrendell had lost the game 21-6.

 

In the second game Arrendell had settled and was now keeping pace with Gaskin who was still in his aggressive and attacking mode but this time Arrendell was up to the task.

 

Some of the highlights saw Arrendell way off the baseline returning smash after smash from Gaskin who eventually spoiled.

 

However at 14-14, Gaskin changed the game plan moving away from the attacking play and rallying instead, which saw Arrendell spoiling the point. 

 

In the end Arrendell only managed two more points as Gaskin ran away 21-16 to move in to the quarter-finals. 

 

Edwards took less than 30 minutes to dismiss Julian Quimby in straight games 21-9, 21-11.

 

Two of the feature matches were a walk over with Kim Holder who is ranked number one, never having to play Shernelle Cumberbatch who was a no-show, while men’s number one Mark ‘Venom’ Griffith was left holding his racquet as his opponent was announced to have suffered a knee injury and could not play.

 

The other match on the night saw Margo Lorde who is ranked #8 cruising to victory over Miranda Manning 21-7, 21-11.