Blaise Bicknell tops T&T tennis tourney

Sixteen-year-old Blaise Bicknell, one of Jamaica's most accomplished junior tennis players, took top honours in the ITF/Trinidad Trinity Cup tennis tournament, which was held at the Racquet Sports Centre recently. He won without dropping a set, and in the finals he defeated American Andrew Mariados in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3.

Blaise, who is now ranked at number 187 in the world in the 18 and under age group, has been having a busy year and prior to his visit to Trinidad and Tobago, he played in Costa Rica, El Salvador, and California. He reached the quarter-finals in Costa Rica and the finals in El Salvador. The victory in Trinidad was satisfying, he told The Gleaner. He beat some good players on his way to the title.

Determination

Speaking about his final match in Trinidad, he said: "I was down, but decided that I would not lose, and calling on all any skills I fought back and won the first set 6-4. With his confidence high, he broke his opponent twice in the second set, to come away with a 6-3 victory.

Looking ahead for the rest of the year, Bicknell said, that his intention is to train hard and enter as many tournaments as possible.

"I am going to Florida next week for three tournaments, and a victory in any one of these will mean a lot, as apart from match practice, I will earn valuable points and go up in the world rankings," he said.