Matthew Chapman, Star Writer
Michaelann Denton is seen in this file photo last December, at the Petcom Tennis Championships at the Liguanera Club. Denton won the International Tennis Federation Junior Championships Under-14 singles title yesterday at the Eric Bell Tennis Centre. She defeated compatriot Sheleta Haughton 7-6, 6-2 in the final. - LeVaughn Flynn
Jamaica's young sporting stars excelled yesterday in the International Tennis Federation's Junior Championships when Roland Phillips and Michaelann Denton both emerged trumphant.
Phillips saw off the challenge of Bahamian Christian Cargill in the Boys' Under-14 singles final shortly after Denton had prevailed over Sheleta Haughton in the all-Jamaican Girls' Under-14 final.
Both finals were played at the Eric Bell Tennis Centre with the first final resulting in Denton defeating Haughton 7-6, 6-2. After an extremely close first set that could have gone either way, Denton proceeded to exert her dominance and ended up winning the final in straight sets.
There was little to choose between the two players before the final, with both girls winning their respective semi-finals in straight sets. Haughton beat Melena Lopez of Barbados 6-4, 6-4 to secure her place in the final and eventual champion Denton managed to hold off the challenge of Thadria Kepple in another all-Jamaican affair as she came out on top 6-3, 7-6.
Despite there being no clear favourite at the start of the final, Denton said after the match, "I was always very confident that I was going to win because I have beaten her and I knew I could do it again."
Very proud
Denton was visibly very proud of her first singles tournament victory and the student from Immaculate Conception High School went on to add, "I am feeling really good. It was a very tough match and the sun was also very hot, but I managed to pull myself through it for the victory."
In the other final, the young Jamaican Phillips beat Cargill 6-3, 6-3. It was a final that Phillips showed no signs of losing, controlling the play from the outset in a fine display of tennis. Phillips consequently avenged the loss by his compatriot Daniel Harris, who was defeated by Cargill in the semi-final 6-2, 6-2. Phillips himself reached the final by beating Adrian De Silva in straight sets, despite a spirited comeback by the youngster from Trinidad and Tobago, with the game finishing 6-1, 7-6.
Decisive factor
A decisive factor in Phillips' successful championship bid was his competitive hunger.
"I really wanted to win because two years ago on the tour (in the Under-12s competition) I made it to the final but lost so I really wanted to win this one," said the youngster, who attends Campion College. Phillips added that his victory in the final was down to being more consistent on the day to Cargill. Phillips will be hoping to make it two in a row as he travels to Mexico next Friday in order to take part in the Central American and Caribbean Junior Tournament.
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